Beckman Institute 20th Anniversary Symposium Welcoming Remarks from Tamer Başar - October 6
Good morning and welcome to this first full day of the Beckman Institute 20th Anniversary Symposium. What a big bang we had last night with the kickoff keynote lecture by Nobel Laureate Susumu Tonegawa. His excellent talk really set the stage for the next two days as we look at the contributions of the Beckman Institute and the value of an interdisciplinary approach to research.
This is an extremely exciting time to be involved in scientific exploration. Computational power is making possible all kinds of discoveries and insights that were not possible ten or even five years ago. Nanoscale technology is being developed that is changing everything from how products are manufactured to how medicine is being practiced. And almost every day scientists are gaining new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying human behavior.
The Beckman Institute has played and continues to play a role, a leading role, in all of these areas, as well as many more fields in our rapidly changing scientific landscape. Over the next two days the contributions to science made by Beckman Institute researchers over the years will be highlighted and discussed. We will hear from all three of our previous directors, and from former researchers about the impact of the work that has gone on at Beckman. We will remember Arnold Beckman. And some of our former students who have gone on to success in their respective fields will talk about their time at the Institute.
The work that has taken place at Beckman Institute over the past two decades has been remarkable and will be highlighted during today’s events. But this symposium is about more than past accomplishments or even just Beckman research alone. It is also very much about the work that is going on today and that will be carried out in the future at the Institute, and it is about envisioning new paths for scientific research. Toward those ends, we will hear about the exciting research taking place in our four research themes and within the groups comprising those themes; we will hear about our two strategic initiatives and our developing initiative; and we will hear about the future of research at the Beckman Institute and interdisciplinary research in general. Are there ways of doing science in the 21st Century that aren’t being utilized? Could we here at Beckman take the lead in exploring those ways, just as was done 20 years ago when the Institute was founded?
I am sure you are all looking forward to those explorations and discussions as much as I am. It truly is going to be an exciting two days, as we remember, learn, and explore during this symposium. The Symposium program reveals the diversity of the disciplines that are represented by both our speakers and the topics for discussion. This is, of course, the Beckman way. From the alumni reflections session to the research milestone speakers and to the vision for the future talks, we have unparalleled diversity, covering the gamut from psychology, radiology, physiology and neuroscience to physics, chemistry, materials science and electrical and computer engineering – all having a common thread. In other words, this symposium will embody the Beckman spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration and the breaking down of barriers.
Before we get started today, I want to thank everyone who has helped make this and all of our 20th anniversary year events possible. From the members of the 20th anniversary planning committee, to our former directors, researchers, and friends who have returned to campus for the year-long series of events, to the people currently at the Institute who have contributed to the effort, everyone involved has made this a remarkable event, a 20th anniversary celebration to remember. Your efforts are very much appreciated.
Now coming to today’s program, our keynote speaker today is Dr. Thomas R. Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. We will also hear today about the Beckman Institute’s contributions to science, beginning with talks from the Institute’s three previous directors. Later we will learn about Beckman’s research milestones, hear reflections from Institute alumni, and be treated to a tribute to Arnold Beckman. We also look forward to this afternoon’s poster session and tonight’s symposium dinner.
But first, we will hear from our top two administrators on our campus: First our Interim Provost Bob Easter, and then our Chancellor Richard Herman.