Dear Students,

Welcome back to the College of Science! Whether you spent your break in the lab, in the field, or far away from either, I hope you return ready to dig back in.

Science is built on curiosity, and this college thrives because of yours. Whether you're running your first lab experiment, deepening a research project, or calibrating your next step toward a scientific career, know that you're joining a community built on evidence, driven by inquiry, and unafraid to try new things.

This semester brings new momentum and new opportunities: student programs, courses,  research partnerships, guest speakers from academia and industry, and more. Our faculty are ready to challenge your thinking, support your process, and celebrate every result, whether it confirms your prediction or sends you back to the drawing board. In science, both are progress.

To our returning students: welcome back. I can't wait to see what you do this year, and what you uncover along the way. To our new students: welcome to a place where every question is worth asking, and "what if" is just the beginning.

Here's to a semester of big ideas, unforgettable experiences, and opportunities to grow both inside and outside the classroom.