he Faculty Club was buzzing with students who attended the November dinner that officially welcomed them to the Stanford Graduate Fellowships Class of 1998. "Oh, you’re a Stanford Graduate Fellow, too," students remarked as they discovered classmates among their SGF colleagues.

The dinner, hosted by Dean of Research Charles Kruger and the Faculty Steering Committee that administers the program, is an annual event to honor the incoming SGF class. The keynote speaker was Professor of Chemistry Richard Zare, the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor of Natural Science.

In a talk titled "Keys to Graduate Success—Serendipity and Love," Professor Zare shared his thoughts on the makings of a successful graduate study career.

Serendipity, he said, is the source of most great discoveries. Louis Pasteur said that serendipity is when "chance favors the prepared mind." Graduate studies, he said, will prepare the mind. But, Zare contested, that is not enough. In order for serendipity to occur, one needs also a combination of curiosity, wonder, and openness.

Zare urged the students to "embrace schizophrenia" -- to have the ability to believe and not believe simultaneously. "You have to be willing to listen to and suggest crazy ideas," he said, "but at the same time, keep in mind that these ideas may be, and likely are, crazy."

Students were encouraged to cross traditional research boundaries. Zare recommended that they become involved in multiple projects and that they attend seminars in areas that appear to be incomprehensible and outside of their fields. "In time," he said, "you will discover connections between these seemingly unrelated fields."

Singing the Walt Disney song "When You Wish Upon a Star," Zare theorized that Disney might have overestimated the power of dreams. Nonetheless, Zare believes that without a dream, little can be realized and accomplished. "Dream great thoughts, make great plans, build sand castles in the sky," he said, "and the foundations will follow."

In closing, Zare said that no one should underestimate the power of love. "You are here at Stanford University because of love shown to you by others—your parents, friends, teachers, mentors, and tormentors that comprise your previous educational experiences. You should choose a thesis project because of love, and you will succeed in this choice because of the faithfulness of your love. Love wisely, deeply, and often," he urged. "With the power of love you can transform your dreams into action, and if you do what you love, happiness and success will follow."