I’ve been privileged over the course of my 30-odd-year career to work as both an editor and writer. And if there’s one universal truth I’ve discovered over that time, it’s that everybody has a story.

Finding and telling these fascinating stories never gets old for me. And as an alumni magazine, we have an especially rich hunting ground for compelling narratives, particularly at the University of Minnesota. 

Alumni of this institution attended the U of M for many reasons. Many chose it because of its rich history as a research mecca, where students lean into new possibilities on the cutting-edge of exploration. Others chose to attend the U of M for its faculty depth and expertise across the widest possible fields, from liberal arts to the hard sciences. Others still elected to make the University their alma mater or their faculty or staff home because they want to take part in groundbreaking scholarship that can dramatically remake and improve the world around us.

In this issue of Minnesota Alumni, we’re looking at a few noteworthy individuals who are taking big swings at solving some of the world’s most daunting problems. These stories highlight a handful of the ways that U of M graduates and others square up against today’s biggest challenges with fresh ideas, boundless energy, and remarkable innovation.

Consider Thomas Osdoba (M.A. ’88), who’s leading a Herculean effort in the European Union to help 100 cities address climate change by achieving net-zero carbon emissions in the next few years.

Or there’s geneticist, plant researcher, and former U of M tennis standout Michael Kantar (B.S. ’07, M.S. ’08, Ph.D. ’13), who is asking big questions about the agriculture we practice today and exploring whether there might be better ways for us to approach feeding the world.

In other quarters, faculty and staff at the School of Public Health are tackling the daunting issue of dementia, looking for ways to ease the strain of this terrible condition for both sufferers and their families. Then there’s the U of M’s Forever Green Institute, where individuals are working hard to improve our water and air quality with the help of new agricultural offerings that serve double duty as both cash and cover crops with untapped potential.

These are just a few of the stories we’ve found for you in this issue. And each of them is well worth telling.

Kelly O’Hara Dyer can be reached at ohara119@umn.edu.

If you liked this story, Minnesota Alumni magazine publishes four times a year highlighting U of M alumni and University activities. Early access to stories and a print subscription are benefits of being an Alumni Association member. Join here to receive a printed copy at home.