I am one of the former. For example, there are lovers of physical sciences and all things mechanical (e.g. my passion for automobiles). Then there are lovers of all things that breathe (e.g. my wife Cindy’s love of pets). Here again, I am one of the former, but my wife and daughter are clearly the latter.

However, where the two can come together is the need to apply practical technology and engineering to advancing both fields. In the realm of the former is mechanical engineering. In the realm of the latter is applied biology. Both realms can coexist in education and in fact, through shared resources and applications, improve both mechanical and physical "things" and apply those to the world’s loving things.

The same technology can be applied to both realms. For example, Rose students have already designed a mechanical device to assist a two- year-old-child, unable to move his forearms from a birth defect, to move his arms to play all kinds of games! By adding applied biology to Rose-Hulman’s curriculum, we have provided a stage for sharing of resources and technological ideas for the betterment of both living things directly and our physical world of devices. We have thus opened the door to many more aspiring "scientists" and "engineers", who, however, have a primary interest in biological applications. Before starting our new degree program in applied biology, they had no comfortable place at Rose-Hulman.

It has been said by many prognosticators that the first half of the twentieth century was devoted to nuclear physics, and the second half to computers and information technology. It is generally agreed that the next decades will be devoted to biology — both basic biological research and applied biology to bring the result of that research to practical applications. Rose will be ready to attract the new wave of students with these interests, and thus not only will we have a new pool from which to admit students, but we will also be better, more well-rounded contributors to technological advancements.

The two "fields" can get along together and quite well. Take Cindy, and me. She has learned to share some of my interest in automobiles and I have certainly learned to share space with living hairballs of many colors. However, an early truce was essential to marital harmony. We have a deal. I cannot have any more sports cars than she can have furry beasts. (However, I would like to point out that we currently have one more furry beast than sports cars, even counting a hamster and a guinea pig as one; so I am seriously in the car market again).

Some mutual understanding is also needed. For example, when our giant schnauzer was diagnosed with hip displasia the choice was to "put him down" or spend $1,100 for major mechanical hip replacement and repair. Husband – "My goodness gracious, Cindy," ...[the preceding words have been slightly altered for our readers of tender years]... "we only paid $250 for the animal and you want to spend $1,100?" Wife (and daughter)- "Need I remind you of what you paid to rebuild the Corvette engine you blew up?" End of argument — dog’s hip fixed — happy mother, daughter, dog and father. Fast forward three years. The dog’s hip had been repaired by experimental procedures. After further technological developments the procedures have been much improved. The operation is now commonplace. Now the same procedure can be performed for less than a third of the cost. Many more families of limited means with furry beasts with hip problems can now avoid the loss of a beloved pet.