Nature and Science, the world's top two science journals, recently featured research and commentary by two SIUC geologists. Scott Ishman and Nicholas Pinter both work in various places around the globe. Both have had funding from the National Science Foundation for their research. And both have been featured in Perspectives before. We return to them in this issue's Research Survey section because their scientific concerns--climate change and river flooding, respectively--have compelling implications for public policy.

So does our cover story. The 1990 issue of Perspectives contained an article on women and work that featured several SIUC faculty, including sociologist Kathy Ward. Sixteen years later, our cover looks at Kathy's recent focus on how globalization has affected the lives of women in one of the world's poorest countries. This work, funded by the National Science Foundation and several other agencies, has economic policy implications for Third World and industrialized nations alike.

Other projects with, we hope, high potential for public benefit include continuing research on helping Alzheimer's patients function better, and a promising new composite material to greatly extend the life of drill bits and other tools.

Whereas the last issue of Perspectives emphasized the regional impact of SIUC research, this issue describes several projects with worldwide implications. Besides their other benefits, such research activities better prepare the graduate and undergraduate students who take part in them to work in a global economy and live in a global society. I hope you enjoy reading about these diverse projects.

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