Both basic and applied research help inform the choices and decisions made by parents, educators, health providers, caregivers, and others who work with children and strive to improve their world. From research findings emerge policy recommendations, educational programs, and strategies to improve social service delivery to better meet the needs of children and improve the larger communities in which they mature. Our hope is that this work may enhance the potential for full and healthy development of all children. I take heart in the fascinating new insights into children that such research yields. 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.