To mark her first day as president of Columbia University, Jennifer L. Mnookin visited the Rutherfurd Observatory and reflected on the spirit of discovery and public purpose that has been part of the institution’s story from the very beginning. From telescopes in service of the American Revolution to seismometers on the moon and satellites in orbit, Columbians have never stopped asking questions, searching for answers, and following the evidence wherever it leads. Questions about what it means to be human and our place in the universe, about disease and democracy, literature and learning, climate and creativity, justice and discovery.