We are on the cusp of commencement here–it’s 12 days away–and yet another academic year is about to end. I did a walk through of the building with my associate director, Ken DeJong, this morning and was astounded to see some of the places that I rarely frequent. There was a time when I knew where everything was–we’re too large for that now, so there are funny surprises for me, as well as our students and faculty who have been here for less time.
On thinking back, this has been a fine year for Mason’s Institute for Advanced Study, in spite of the much vaunted Great Recession. I continue to be impressed by our incredibly bright trainees, our productive faculty and the general willingness of all to reach out across their disciplinary boundaries to new colleagues, all while maintaining a vibrant collegiality.
That and the extant willingness to take on scientific risk, makes this a dream job.
This weekend, I went to the ballpark and watched as the hapless Nationals easily disposed of the St. Louis Cardinals. It seemed an apt metaphor for those of us living here, in proximity to Jefferson’s and Lincoln’s monuments: in the worst of times come the most pleasant of surprises.
Greenshoots,
Jim
Discoverers and Discoveries 