Making connections and providing the community of Orange County with the opportunity to learn about the critical role that biological sciences play in our world is one of the most exciting activities sponsored by the Ayala School. Many of the issues facing our world, from the environment/sustainability to health and wellness to energy production will have a biological-based solution. Carl Sagan once said “we live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” Hence, it is critical that UCI and the Ayala School help inform and educate the citizens of Orange County and beyond about the complex issues related to the life sciences. 
 
On February 4^th, Arthur D. Lander, M.D., Ph.D., Donald Bren Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology, was the guest speaker for the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture series. It was a resounding success for two main reasons. First, it was exciting to see that the lecture hall was packed with many members of the local public who were interested in learning about the life sciences. Second, Professor Lander delivered a truly remarkable lecture that provided a fresh perspective on biological systems. The enthusiasm spilled over into the reception, where the dialogue between Ayala faculty and community members evolved beyond Professor Lander’s topic for that night. 
 
As a public university, The Ayala School seeks to build strong bridges to the community to help inform them about the sciences, which will hopefully translate into stronger lobbying support for research and other benefits. We intend to continue to reach out to our local public using our lecture series as a bridge between the researchers who seek to find solutions to society’s grand challenges, and the people seeking solutions to those challenges.