Henry David Thoreau, one of history's most active amateur biologists, famously questioned whether students of science could suffer "any greater reproach than idle learning." Professional biologist and MU Assistant Professor Anand Chandrasekhar certainly doesn’t think so.

There are no idle learners in Chandrasekhar's Gentry Hall laboratory, only hard-working student scientists. Education arises from hands-on experience--the completion of formal investigations demanding close observation, hypotheses, predictions and the testing of natural phenomena. Student research findings, often presented alongside those of more experienced scientists, are subjected to rigorous peer review. Many add significantly to our understanding of complex biological processes.

Much of our Fall 2003 edition of Illumination is dedicated to exploring the achievements of similarly engaged scholars and scientists at MU.

Our cover story, for example, details the courageous personal and professional journey of Kira Salak, a doctoral candidate in creative writing who has become one of the nation's most admired adventure travel writers. Another story describes how the students of assistant professor Vicki Rosser are delving into long-neglected primary source material to uncover hidden aspects of MU history. We also explore works from a number of undergraduate visual artists who are aggressively pushing creative boundaries.

As with their professional counterparts, I believe these students are living proof that learning and creativity are antidotes to intellectual idleness, that no scholarly activity can kindle the flame of discovery more effectively than the university research experience. I hope you'll agree, and that this edition of Illumination will spark your own appreciation of the energy and ambition driving MU's young researchers.

Jim Coleman
Vice Provost for Research