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On this one-year anniversary of September 11, we all know that the events of that day have changed America and Americans forever. They have opened the box of the unimaginable and released the unthinkable. For the nation, its institutions, and its citizens, there is a loss of innocence about the security of our land and of our lives. In its place, we find a new vigilance for the unexpected. For the many who lost loved ones, friends, or colleagues, the searing memory of a life suddenly snuffed out will last forever. Not long after September 11, we ran across a poem that offered some perspective. The last stanza read: Our small space among the stars is more
more ocean than land
than malicious,
For the science community, the reality that scientific knowledge can be used for ill intent should spur us on in pursuit of a path that only science can offer - not just discovery but also prediction and prevention. We can take pride in the fact that we at the National Science Foundation have made - and will continue to make - significant contributions to help fight terrorism and make the nation more secure. Social scientists with NSF support interviewed Americans about how they thought the country was coping with the 9/11 disaster. This is providing new insights for health care professionals and others working to address the new levels of stress and trauma among the citizenry. NSF support enabled the sequencing of the strain of anthrax found in a lethal letter sent through the U.S. postal system. Other researchers were able to provide invaluable knowledge and expertise for the emergency and recovery efforts following the September 11th attacks. Structural engineering experts were some of the first people at Ground Zero. Their task was to figure out why the Twin Towers collapsed completely. An NSF-funded robotics researcher was also at 'Ground Zero' the day after the attacks. Her robots searched the most dangerous parts of the rubble and brought back critical information. For many of us whose work has been behind the scenes, in the quietude of studious scientific endeavor, the change since September 11 has been like a spotlight at midnight. Suddenly, we scientists and engineers find ourselves in front-line, first-response positions. Scientists and engineers will be needed and sought after by many segments of the society. We as an agency are an integral part of those efforts and will play an important role in keeping America both prosperous and secure. Looking beyond what we can and will do as NSF employees, we believe this disquieting time has taught us another valuable lesson -- each of us has something to offer as an individual - in our communities, our institutions - and as citizens of a great nation.
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