Selection of Robert Dynes as President, University of California System Statement from Bruce Alberts, President, National Academy of Sciences June 12, 2003 We are delighted to learn that Bob Dynes will be the next president of the University of California system. For many years -- and wearing many different hats -- Bob has played a key role in American science, as well as in our own institution. Beginning in 1992, he served on our Board on Physics and Astronomy for eight years, and was its chair from 1997 to 2000. During that time, he helped design the Academy's initiatives in the physical sciences. He was instrumental in key studies that led the federal government to establish important new priorities, such as building a successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and revampimg fusion research at the U.S. Department of Energy. Since 2001, Bob has served on the Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the core governing group that sets Academy policy on issues ranging from budgets to long-range planning. Most recently, he helped us set the Academy's policy on a critical new problem -- how American science can continue to thrive as an open and free enterprise when some would prefer to see it broadly constrained in the name of national security. Bob Dynes is a forceful, articulate, and thoughtful advocate on scientific issues of both national and international significance. We will continue to count on his wise counsel in matters of key importance to U.S. science and technology. We congratulate the University of California for its wisdom in selecting Bob as its new president. And, we wish him the best of luck in this challenging new assignment.