Recently I was hiking with a group of businessmen, one of whom asked me if I thought what I did was important. His question took me by surprise. I am often so busy doing what I do that I don't spend a lot of time thinking about its importance, and I fumbled around for an answer.

In retrospect, I wish I had responded to his question with a question or two of my own. I wish I had asked him, a man who has had coronary bypass surgery, "Is it important to you that your physician knows how to problem solve and think critically?" Or, "Is it important to you to maintain your standard of living?" Or "Do you think it is important for our country to have a scientifically literate citizenry?"

Over the past century, advances in science and technology are largely responsible for the rising standard of living and enhancing the quality of life in this country. Research is key. Undergraduate research in the sciences and engineering prepares students to think critically and to work in teams and evaluate solutions to problems. It prepares students to go on to graduate or professional school to train to be physicians, health care providers of a variety of sorts, scientists, and engineers. Yet our country is lagging behind other countries in the world in the proportion of students earning undergraduate degrees in the sciences and engineering. A recent report from the US National Academies titled, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm," notes that in South Korea, 38% of all undergraduates receive degrees in natural sciences or engineering, in France the number is 47%, in China, it is 50%, and in Singapore it is 67%. In the US, a mere 15% of undergraduates receive degrees in science and engineering. Undergraduate research can provide a means of attracting more students to science and engineering and can better prepare students to pursue careers in these areas.

If you are interested in supporting UBRP, to ensure that future undergraduates will be involved in undergraduate research, please consider contributing to the UBRP Fund. It is simple to do and it is fully tax deductible. Just send a check in any amount payable to the University of Arizona Foundation. In the memo section of the check write "UBRP Fund" and send the check to the UBRP Office, Life Sciences South, Room 348, P.O. Box 210106, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0106.

Carol Bender, Director, UBRP and BRAVO!