As president of The University of Texas at Austin, I share with my colleagues and coworkers a dedication and commitment to improving the world in which children live. Children are our future. If we as a society hope to build a bright future, we must care for our children and give them the kinds of upbringing that provide solid models of cohesion and continuity in their own lives. And we must also commit ourselves to a path of discovery about their worlds. Among the primary concerns that I have tried to express in varied ways during my tenure as president is the importance of community and community building in our lives.
Children are an integral part of that structure of community.
My fervent hope is that our society will recognize the vital role research plays in our understanding of children's lives, children's communities, and children's futures. At a time when many research initiatives face uncertainty and challenges, it is vital that we safeguard the process of discovery about childhood and families-that we invest in it, celebrate it, promote it, protect it, and learn from its results.