A Message From Gary Kebbel

From Lab to Living Room, UNL Research Makes a Difference

A message from College of Journalism and Mass Communications Dean Gary Kebbel

Food, energy and water are strengths of Nebraska, pairing beautifully with the research strengths of the University of Nebraska. The state's rich agricultural heritage and economy, combined with the knowledge and careful stewardship of its people, make Nebraska a perfect place for real-life research.

It's also a perfect place for journalism students to write about science and technology. It's a specialized skill to be able to turn complex information into a story that is both interesting and easy to understand, in a variety of media platforms. It's the future of journalism.

Opportunities for Nebraska, Volume Two: Energy, Climate and Sustainability was produced by Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, a program in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a Magazine Writing course in the spring of 2011. The 40-plus stories provide a snapshot of just some of the research being conducted at the University of Nebraska- research that is providing the science to feed a global population that will grow to nine billion by 2050.

Opportunities for Nebraska, Volume Two: Energy, Climate and Sustainability is the second magazine produced as part of a financial and programmatic collaboration with the founding funder of Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, the Robert and Ardis James Family Foundation; the UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources; and the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Public and private partnerships like this provide the diverse perspectives and shared funding that result in accomplishments that would not otherwise have been possible. We are grateful to the James family and to the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources for joining us in this collaboration.

The University of Nebraska takes its land grant mission seriously. Its commitment to what is often called the "three legged stool"- teaching, research and outreach- is a part of everything we do. Students involved in the production of this magazine have learned to conduct interviews with scientific researchers; they've captured video and still photos; they've learned a new kind of writing; they've learned to edit; they've learned a culture of accuracy. Now, we have the honor of delivering this magazine to you.

The website- www.unl.edu/sdn- contains all of the content in this magazine. Additionally, you can see short video montages of the interviews students conducted with the university researchers.

Enjoy this magazine!