"Adventure of a Lifetime"
Script of President Geoffroy's fall 2006 video message
(approx. 5 minutes)
An adventurous mind looks at a sunset and asks -- why is it red? It
wonders -- exactly what function do dreams perform? How do migrating
birds find their way? How are memories stored? And how do we retrieve
them?
Adventurous minds
Adventurous minds ask questions. Questions that can lead to amazing
new discoveries. And to learning something of significance that, at
least for the moment, no one else on earth knows.
Hi, I'm Greg Geoffroy, president of Iowa State University. Here at
Iowa State, we value adventurous minds. And we encourage them to be
even more adventurous. To push the boundaries of knowledge. That's why
we decided to invest in CyBlue. One of the top 10 university
supercomputers in the entire country. It can make 5.7 trillion
calculations per second.
CyBlue gives us the ability to solve complex problems that once
seemed unsolvable. To make the impossible possible.
For example, Pat Schnable, professor of agronomy, and his
research team are using CyBlue to map the corn genome. That
requires sequencing up to 60,000 genes. Understanding corn at the
molecular level will help us create a better energy source that may
one day eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.
But this is just one of the ways that CyBlue will help us get to
those answers that will completely change our lives.
Think about how exciting that moment of discovery will be for our
students. They will see history being made right before their very
eyes. Learning from those very pioneers who are defining the
future.
But even more exciting, those students will get the opportunity to
actually help in the research that makes the world a better place.
Life-changing research
Life-changing research is only a part of the great 4-year adventure
students experience here at Iowa State. They will be on their own for
the first time. Meet new people. Make new friends. They will have a
professor who opens their minds. Join in on an important discussion in
the student center. Discover passions for things they had never
thought about.
There's the smell of campus in the spring. The excitement of
Cyclone football in the fall. The beauty of Lake LaVerne that changes
with the seasons.
This is truly the best time of their lives. We want to help our
students make the most out of their time here. To discover their talents. To unlock their potential. To thoroughly enjoy the
adventure.
Take Stephanie Law. She's been involved in research since she
arrived on campus four years ago. And she has presented her cutting-edge work with rare earth nickel germanide crystals to the American
Physical Society.
Ryan Doll is a political science major here at Iowa State. As a
student, he was encouraged to run for the Ames City Council. And you
know what -- he won.
Denise Bacher followed her instincts and discovered that she had a
passion for game development and computer science. After graduation,
she plans on going into the emerging field of human computer
interaction.
I think it's the uniqueness of Iowa State that allows our students
to discover their own uniqueness as individuals.
For one, we make a broad range of options available to them. We
have more than 100 majors to choose from, taught by professors who are
among the most highly respected in their fields. So students will find
the major they want today. But down the road, they may find another
major that speaks to a deeper passion and leads to a more fulfilling
career. And life.
Iowa State offers a diversity of social experiences also. Whether
it's going to a Cyclone basketball game and experiencing Hilton
Magic. Seeing your first show at the award-winning Stephens
Auditorium. Or checking out a few of Iowa State's 600 student
clubs.
Right at home
With so much to offer, Iowa State may sound like a pretty big
place. But students tell us they feel at home the moment they set foot
on campus. Because we make them feel welcome.
It's this breadth and depth of Iowa State combined with the support
from people who are truly passionate about the student experience that
sets Iowa State apart. We give you the freedom to explore. To
stretch. To ask questions that accelerate your understanding of the
world around you. I invite you to come to Iowa State and become part
of this amazing journey. Join us as we cross that bridge into the
future. Join us on the adventure of a lifetime.
