Message from MPS Dean Ko

Dean Winston Ko.

On August 9, President Bush signed into law the America Competes Act, intended to strengthen the nation's commitment to research and education. The bill represents a bipartisan, bicameral effort to expand and enhance U.S. basic research and education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to ensure the nation's continued competitiveness in the future. The National Academy's report "Rising Above the Gathering Storm" forms the basis of this effort. It begins:

The United States takes deserved pride in the vitality of its economy, which forms the foundation of our high quality of life, our national security, and our hope that our children and grandchildren will inherit ever-greater opportunities. This vitality is derived in large part from the productivity of well- trained people and the steady stream of scientific and technical innovations they produce. Without high- quality, knowledge-intensive jobs and the innovative enterprises that lead to discovery and new technology, our economy will suffer and our people will face a lower standard of living.

Rising Above the Gathering Storm

Fundamental to discovery in the physical sciences is the deep seated human longing to find the order of the universe around us. The discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge in the mathematical and physical sciences is fundamental to the progress of engineering, biological sciences, and medicine. People well-trained in the mathematical and physical sciences are key to the scientific innovations that are essential to changing life in America and the world.

Our mission is to provide the best foundation of discovery, dissemination and application in mathematical and physical sciences, which are fundamental to the scientific and technical innovations in a broad range of fields. Frontiers of discoveries are to be pushed, from the most primary structure of the subatomic world, to the complexity of novel materials for clean energy and for health care, from the realm of heaven (cosmology) to earth (geology).

Our excellent faculty is committed to attracting the best minds from around the world to join us for undergraduate and graduate studies and fundamental research. The frontier of mathematical and physical science is not only important to national need but is also enormously challenging and intellectually rewarding.

Many students trained in mathematical and physical sciences excel in a wide range of other fields, and team up with researchers from other schools and colleges when trying to solve many of today's pressing issues. In exploring solutions to environmental problems, our geologists, physicists and chemists have united with researchers in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences within the John Muir Institute of the Environment. The division is working with the College of Engineering to develop a Computational Science and Engineering program, NEAT which is dedicated to the study of nanotechnologies, as well as the Energy for the Future initiative in response to the nation's need for clean, affordable, and reliable energy. The physics department is also working with Math, Statistics and Computer Science on Universe@UCDavis which is at the forefront to tackle the pressing questions in dark matter and dark energy.

The University also recognizes the need for talented K-12 science and mathematics teachers. ( Governor's letter to science students) A Mathematics and Science Teachers (MAST) program will be taught in small groups their core science and mathematical courses for two years. The courses will be designed to give the students a very solid background in science and mathematics before they continue on to become high school science teachers, and disseminate their knowledge and interest in the material. I am also pleased to highlight a short segment from PBS' The News Hour with Jim Lehrer (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june06/math_03-07.html). The segment covers California's efforts to train more science and math teachers, and UC Davis' excellent program to support these efforts is highlighted.

About the Dean

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