This essay was inspired by From Polar Bears to Pumpkins, a thoughtful reflection published on October 27, 2026, by polar explorer, citizen scientist, and environmental advocate Sunniva Sorby. Sunniva has spent more than three decades exploring the polar regions, including skiing to the South Pole and spending 19 months overwintering in the Arctic at Bamsebu, Svalbard. Her experiences have shaped an extraordinary commitment to environmental education, scientific observation, a

The Word of the Year for 2026 Every year, dictionaries select a word that supposedly captures the spirit of the times. Sometimes the choice is amusing. Sometimes it is puzzling. Occasionally, it reveals something rather profound about the society in which we live. For 2026, Dictionary.com has chosen maxxing. At first glance, it seems an odd choice. It is not particularly elegant. It has an unnecessary extra x. And it sounds rather like something invented by teenagers who have

The Remarkable Rise of PetSmart and the Commercialization of the Human-Animal Bond There was a time when owning a dog or cat was a relatively uncomplicated financial proposition. Dogs ate dog food, often purchased at the supermarket. Cats ate cat food. Veterinary visits were generally reserved for vaccinations, injuries, and illness. Grooming was frequently performed at home. Pet insurance was uncommon, specialized diets were relatively limited, and few owners contemplated sp

Minerve. Where the Beauty of the Landscape Conceals the Tragedy of Religious Intolerance France has an extraordinary ability to surprise the traveler. Sometimes the most memorable destinations are not the great cities, magnificent cathedrals, or celebrated monuments, but small villages tucked away in the countryside, places where history seems to have stopped centuries ago. Minerve, in the Languedoc region of southern France, is one of those places. Approaching along the wind

There are places you visit because someone tells you there is something there you should see. And then there are places where the place itself is the thing to see. Gordes is one of those places. You see it before you arrive. The road winds through the countryside of Provence, through vineyards, olive trees and fields bleached by the summer sun. Then, almost without warning, there it is - an entire village clinging to the side of a rocky hill. Stone houses rise one above anoth

Trust is one of the most valuable assets an institution possesses. It is also one of the most fragile. We trust our doctors to act in our best interests. We trust universities to pursue knowledge and uphold academic principles. We trust professional organizations to represent their members. We trust governments to exercise authority responsibly. Most of the time, we extend that trust without giving it much thought. Until something happens that causes us to question it. What h

L'Air by Aristotle Maillol. I was walking through the Tuileries Garden in Paris when something caught my attention. There seemed to be naked women everywhere. Not real women, I hasten to add. Statues. One reclined beside a path. Another stood serenely among the trees. Another stretched languorously in the sun. Some were bronze, some stone. Some had names. Some represented goddesses, nymphs, seasons, rivers, abstract concepts, or apparently nothing more complicated than the fe

The third in a series of essays exploring the progression from preventing harm to actively making things better. Universities are institutions dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, the questioning of assumptions, and the advancement of society. Universities encourage critical thinking, intellectual independence, transparency, and reasoned debate. Yet universities are not always equally enthusiastic when those same principles are applied to their own governance. Universities

For much of the history of veterinary medicine, our understanding of animal welfare has been dominated by a relatively straightforward objective: prevent suffering. Provide adequate food and water. Protect animals from injury and disease. Ensure comfortable living conditions. Minimize fear and distress. Allow animals to express normal behavior. These principles, embodied in the widely recognized Five Freedoms, have guided animal welfare legislation, veterinary education, live

National Veterinary Technician Week, October 18–24, 2026 Every October, the veterinary profession celebrates National Veterinary Technician Week. We acknowledge the dedication, compassion, technical expertise, and extraordinary contributions of the veterinary technicians who are indispensable to the care of our patients. There are expressions of gratitude, social media tributes, celebratory lunches, and sometimes gifts. All are well deserved. But perhaps this year we should a

From philosophical optimism to animal welfare, the belief that deliberate human action can improve the lives of others. Mellorism is the philosophical belief that the world is not perfect, but that it can be made better through intentional human effort, action, and cooperation. It is a deceptively simple idea with profound implications. Mellorism acknowledges that suffering, injustice, inequality, and imperfection are enduring features of our world - but it rejects the notion

Universities speak often about democratic values. Universities defend freedom of expression, encourage critical inquiry, and teach students to question assumptions and examine evidence. Universities ask governments to respect academic independence and recognize the dangers of concentrating power in too few hands. Those are worthy commitments. However, they invite a question: How faithfully do universities practice these principles within their own institutions? At a time when

A segment broadcast on CBS News Sunday Morning prompted me to reflect on why we hold on to grievances, what they cost us, and the difference between forgiveness and simply letting go. Correspondent Susan Spencer's report Letting Go: Why Holding Onto Grudges Can Be Damaging, explored why people maintain grievances for years and how forgiveness can help them move forward. There was a wonderfully provocative description of a grudge: Holding a grudge is like setting yourself on f

An ancient question for a modern world. As I grow older, I find myself spending more time reflecting on the past and, perhaps surprisingly, thinking about the future. Not so much my own future, but the future of the people, institutions, professions, and natural world that have been important to me throughout my life. For much of my professional career, I was preoccupied with the immediate demands of veterinary medicine, teaching, research, and the responsibilities that accom

When doing the right thing requires more than being nice. Kindness seems such a simple virtue. We teach it to children, expect it from friends, admire it in strangers, and celebrate it in our professions. We encourage people to be kind, praise acts of kindness, and remind ourselves that a little kindness can make a considerable difference. Who could possibly disagree? Yet kindness becomes considerably more complicated when it demands something of us. Is it kind to remain sile

Higher Education - Shared Governance - Faculty Rights Consider the erosion of faculty influence, the rise of corporate management, and the growing appeal of unionization in American higher education. For generations, American universities have embraced a principle that distinguishes them from most other large institutions: Shared governance. The idea is straightforward. Universities exist to advance knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, and those responsib

Do we really need a scientific paper to remind veterinarians to be kind? A recent article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) caught my attention. Published on October 9, 2026, the paper, entitled Kindness in veterinary practice: clinical behaviors that support safer care, was authored by Rustin M. Moore and four colleagues. It is a ten-page narrative review, supported by 51 references, three tables, and a conceptual diagram. Its central mess

Universities love awards and rankings. They announce them in press releases, celebrate them on websites, and share the good news with alumni, donors, faculty, students, and the public. Being recognized as the best, the most innovative, or the most distinguished institution in a particular field is a powerful marketing tool. But: Who decides what constitutes excellence, and how do they know when they have found it? More importantly: What is the difference between an award for

The true measure of university leadership is not simply what administrators accomplish. The true measure of university leadership is how they accomplish it. However, the how is seldom included in the assessment of an administrator’s record during the reappointment process. Universities are unusual institutions. Universities are places where knowledge is created, assumptions are challenged, evidence is examined, and truth is pursued. The legitimacy of a university rests not si

When philanthropy becomes a transaction There is an important distinction between two seemingly similar phrases: "in recognition of" and "as a condition of." “In recognition of” expresses gratitude. “As a condition of” establishes an obligation. In philanthropy, particularly when public universities are involved, the difference is more than a matter of semantics. It goes to the heart of what it means to give, what it means to receive, and what a public institution may be expe