We are just days away from the start of the inaugural International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE)-the refreshed, refocused, and rebranded Sigma Xi annual conference. Our theme this year is of particular interest: "Science Convergence in an Inclusive and Diverse World." Convergence is much more than a buzzword: It is the crucial effort over the last 15 years stressing the importance of collaboration in solving important societal and global problems. Take just one example: urban planning. The design of new cities that will meet the needs of modern citizens can no longer be based on principles from the 1950s. Infrastructure no longer means simply clean water and efficient transportation. Now, the quickly changing requirements of modern urban life require scientists and engineers to work together for the most effective solutions. Clearly, new modes of city planning, new materials, and new transportation systems will require all of us to work together to provide solutions to sustain a megalopolis of 20 to 30 million people.
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