Think of the Possibilities!

Welcome to the Summer 2018 issue of the Carnegie Reporter. Among much else, we focus our lens on the extraordinary things that happen when people around the world embrace the potential of America — when ordinary (and some not-so-ordinary) individuals step through the door of citizenship onto the vast plains of opportunity that this nation affords.

Andrew Carnegie, an immigrant himself, believed deeply that with such opportunity comes the responsibility to be part of an informed, engaged citizenry. The strength of our democracy depends on that vigilant engagement. The guiding principle of Carnegie’s vision, and of our work, is to continue to advance and share knowledge and understanding, so that all of us, especially those who debate the policies of our nation, have better insights with which to engage the issues of the day.

Largely self-educated, Carnegie believed that one person with enough knowledge and enough drive can change the world. That belief in individual pioneers remains at the heart of our national hope. This issue of the Reporter celebrates that trailblazing spirit, and shows the ways in which Carnegie’s legacy continues to invest in building and sharing knowledge.

There is much to savor and ponder in these pages.

Two remarkable women — bona fide trailblazers Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, and Judy Woodruff, solo anchor of PBS NewsHour — sit down for a freewheeling conversation about careers, science, journalism, climate change, fake news, the #MeToo movement, philanthropy, and much more. Scholar Steven W. Witt unearths the fascinating story of the International Mind Alcoves (1917–1954), a noble effort that aimed — through books! — to put an end to war by encouraging international understanding and developing cosmopolitan perspectives across the globe. Writer Aruna D’Souza explores the dynamic efforts of science museums to get kids inspired by STEM subjects — in fact, inviting the entire family. An intriguing look at the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program demonstrates how award-winning, pathbreaking scholars and writers continue to tackle the big questions in today’s Twitterverse of short attention spans. Our book reviewers take on cyberwar and cybersecurity, the rise of China and the “New Silk Road,” extremism in Africa, threats to democracy, and DREAMers. Beautiful portraits of immigrants to America past (by Augustus F. Sherman) and present (by Jennifer S. Altman) add dimensionality and haunting humanity to an issue that is couched, too easily, by the media and our politicians as either/or.

I am one generation removed from the Wisconsin farmhouse that still holds the log cabin walls of my own family’s pioneer story. I grew up wondering what my ancestors would think of the lives we have built upon their legacy. I strive to be worthy of their dreams.

Regardless of how we came to this country, we are all children of our ancestors’ dreams. As Vartan Gregorian notes in his essay, America may not be perfect, but we believe it is perfectible. This issue of the Carnegie Reporter celebrates the pioneers in spirit of today and yesteryear. They embody the potential of America to change their world — and ours — for the better.