The 21st Century Corps of Discovery Lecture at the University of Missouri-Columbia

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The 21st Century Corps of Discovery lecture is held annually on the MU campus and commemorates the contributions of Lewis and Clark by featuring an outstanding MU professor and discoverer who will inspire and bring together the University community at the beginning of each academic year. Reinforcing “discovery,” one of the University’s core values, the lecture is poised to represent MU’s diverse academics in science, art, humanities, law, medicine, engineering, education, journalism and business.

For more information, go to the Chancellor's web site.

Overview

Just as the Lewis & Clark Expedition findings of 200 years ago became known as the "Corps of Discovery," so too have the University of Missouri professors' amazing scholarly and creative findings become discoveries of the twenty-first century. All too often, faculty scholarship and research discoveries are known largely by disciplines, but go unrecognized by the wider campus community.

The 21st Century Corps of Discovery annual lecture by one of the most distinguished MU faculty celebrates such discoveries and brings together the University and the community at the beginning of the academic year. This event keeps alive Thomas Jefferson's dream of education as a cornerstone of American democracy. This well-publicized lecture, selected each year from a variety of disciplines, shares current discoveries both inside and outside the academic community as part of a land-grant university mission wherein "discovery" is one of its stated values.

This annual lecture, by beginning in September 2004, commemorates the Lewis & Clark Expedition's exploration of uncharted territory, detailed preservation of data, and invaluable contribution to policy and scholarship of the 19th century. The MU campus offers a rich historical context for such a lecture as the nation's first public university west of the Mississippi River.

Just as the original Corps was a diverse group, so too will be this 21st century corps. In fact, over a period of time, the new corps will broadly represent the University's scholarship and creativity in the humanities, arts, behavioral and social sciences, sciences, and professional schools.

Purpose

1. To highlight outstanding scholarly and/or creative work at Missouri's premier public research university
2. To publicly honor distinguished faculty through a general lecture accessible to the entire campus and the wider regional community
3. To signal the beginning of the academic year with a broadly shared campus activity focused on scholarship and creative endeavors

Award

1. The honor of being a member of MU's 21st Century Corps of Discovery
2. A designated plaque
3. A reception in his or her honor following the lecture
4. An honorarium ($5,000)
5. A publication and video of the event

Selection Committee

A campus committee appointed by the Chancellor with advice from the Faculty Council will select each year's 21st Century Corps of Discovery member.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Any faculty member, regardless of departmental affiliation, who is broadly recognized for his or her scholarly and/or creative contributions, is eligible for the award. He or she must have both the ability and desire to give a public lecture of general interest to the community at large. Both the prominence of the person and the appropriateness of the topic will be considered in the selection of the recipient.

Nominations

Faculty colleagues, departments, schools/colleges, and recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals to be honored.

Nominations materials should include:

1. Nomination/Cover Letter. This letter will provide justification for the selection of the nominee as the recipient of this award. Specifically describe the nominee's scholarly and/or creative contribution to his or her discipline. Also describe his/her ability to give a public lecture of general interest to the community at large. The potential topic for the lecture should be included in the nomination letter, along with a statement describing why the topic would be of interest.

2. Supporting Letters (optional but limited to no more than 4). Supporting letters should provide important information about the nominee and his or her worthiness for the award as described by the criteria. Ideally, no more than one supporting letter should be from the nominee's own discipline. Most helpful are letters from a person in a position to discuss the significance of the contribution to the field and the general quality of the nominee's work and/or to discuss the potential of the lecture which will be given.

3. Nominee's Curriculum Vitae

4. Nominee's Letter. This brief letter from the nominee provides affirmation that the nominee is willing and available during the first week of Fall Semester to provide the lecture if chosen as the recipient. The nominee may describe the lecture to be given, if he or she desires.

Nomination materials should not be submitted in a hard binder. The length of the nomination materials is not of primary importance as the final choice will be based upon convincing evidence. Nomination materials will not be returned, therefore, the nominator should retain a copy of nomination materials for possible future use. Unsuccessful nominations may be updated and resubmitted in successive years.

Deadline

Nominations and supporting materials must be submitted on or before February 15 (or closest business day). Submit an electronic version as an email attachment to umcprovostawards@missouri.edu, naming each document starting with the applicant's last name followed by a document reference (i.e., Jones-Discovery application). Send only the original copy of the entire proposal packet to:

Office of the Deputy Provost
116 Jesse Hall
(573) 882-6597