First, I want to express how proud I am of the Iris team and all they accomplished in sending the first student-built rover into space earlier this year. Though reality fell short of the planned goal to reach and explore the Moon, the team never wavered — pivoting with the challenges, focusing on new mission goals and leading to scientific firsts for the team.    

During the hours after the launch — as it became apparent that the Astrobotic Peregrine lander would not be able to touch down safely on the Moon — the science community around the globe offered assistance, resources and encouragement. It was heartwarming and welcomed. The Iris team did the same five months prior when India’s Vikram lander safely touched down near the Moon’s south pole, but both the lander and the attached Pragyan rover did not respond to the wake-up signals, suspending the possibility of further scientific operations.

These gestures of goodwill come from a place of human empathy and realization of the difficulties of space exploration. They also follow in the tradition of scientists who seek success not for themselves or their own countries, but for the advancement of scientific discovery to benefit humankind. We seek knowledge as a global community, and we know that as our peers around the world advance scientific and research efforts, our own work will benefit.

This sentiment brings to mind the work that SCS and all of CMU are doing to build the bonds of global research. The idea of a global university is not new. Where once students from many nations traveled to attend influential institutions, SCS and CMU have global cooperation and relationship building in our DNA. CMU has put forth a concerted effort to think globally alongside our continued dedication to working with the most talented and driven individuals on problems that affect us all. And as we have let a thousand flowers bloom, we have not allowed borders to define our relationships.

Also of interest, SCS has taken the lead on leveraging our diverse teams to create fairness and equity in the applications of our efforts. The more diverse the voices in the creation of technologies, the better the science and the more widespread and effective the applications will be. This, too, is central to the SCS experience.

In this issue of THE LINK are stories of these types of partnerships. As we work to enhance technology to help solve global problems, we also strive to become global citizens who are dedicated to social responsibility.

From SCS faculty testifying before the U.S. Congress on building safer and more equitable AI for all, to the work being done to help build technical infrastructure in Africa, the people of SCS are mindful of our ability and responsibility to lead on the global stage. Rather than promoting our own point of view, the most profound influence of SCS remains when we participate in the process of building cooperative relationships that increase access and success for all.