I was delighted to represent our class at the AYA Assembly/Yale Alumni Fund Convocation in New Haven on November 8-9, 2018.  The other classmates I encountered during the gathering were Steve Cushner, Andy Sherman, KathyMurphy and Glenn Murphy.  This year’s theme was “Science at Yale:  Shaping the Future.”

The Assembly & Convocation began with introductory remarks by President Salovey providing an overview of the theme of the gathering.  Two years ago, Yale determined that the sciences are fundamental to its mission of educating leaders and improving the world.  At that time, President Salovey and the provost charged the University Science Strategy Committee (the “USSC”) with identifying the most promising opportunities for investment across the sciences.  The USSC identified five top-priority areas:  (1) integrative data science and its mathematical foundations, (2) quantum science, engineering, and materials, (3) neuroscience, (4) inflammation science, and (5) environmental and evolutionary sciences.  In addition, the USSC recommended four areas for cross-cutting investment that would support all STEM fields.  These were (1) graduate student support, (2) diversity across the STEM pipeline, (3) instrumentation development, and (4) core facilities.

President Salovey mentioned several facility advancements around campus, including the renovated Sterling Chemistry Lab, the Greenberg Engineering Teaching Concourse, and the new Yale Science Building.  He also emphasized the importance of the arts and humanities in a Yale education.  As part of an effort to bring the arts to the rest of campus and to encourage collaboration between the arts and the sciences, Yale has undertaken a major renovation of the former Hall of Graduate Studies, which will provide a central home for the humanities, including classrooms and a shared screening room.  Salovey noted that while the renovation hasn’t yet been completed, there are already cross-discipline projects underway.

The next item on the agenda was a panel discussion among four members of the USSC about their process for determining their recommendations.  They also gave some examples of the leading-edge research happening in the priority areas.  Completing the morning’s programs was a panel discussion among deans of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Yale School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Yale School of Public Health.

The afternoon was devoted to break-out sessions on a variety of science-related topics.  I learned about inflammation and ethical issues arising in the study of human genetics, both fascinating topics.

There were various workshops scheduled for the next morning.  I attended the one for Yale College Classes, where a good deal of the conversation was about effective use of social media for maintaining contact with classmates.  Don’t forget our class page, yale71.org!

— Jean Brenner, Class of 1971 AYA Representative