I am very grateful for the opportunity to spend my time as a scientist.  It is an amazing career.  No two days are the same and it is such a pleasure to work training students, postdocs and visiting scientists. Throughout the world science is exploding, incredible discoveries happen daily and yesterday's fantasies become today's realities.

The frustration comes from the fact that this elegant theatre of science plays out on a national stage of misplaced priorities. School programs get axed, space exploration is cut, and proficiency in writing and math is a rare commodity.  Politicians quibble about incorporation of the supernatural into science classes, and the public frequently views science and scientists with a less than favorable eye. There's not enough money for research or teaching, but we'll always have something in the kitty to fight an unending war or build a sports stadium.

The future will need science.  New challenges to our food, energy and health needs require increased and sustained investment in new technologies.  We need to spark a new scientific interest in our nation's children. Yet our leaders fail to conjure the political resolve to drive transformative initiatives.

My scientific program strives to teach and train the next generation of scientists in important areas of impact, namely the science of plants.  A strong public outreach program integrates with science fairs, public lectures and other means to educate the public about science.