Introduction

Abstract

This volume in the Jepson Studies in Leadership series is based on a colloquium exploring Leadership and Discovery held at the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies in September, 2007. Scholars from a variety of disciplines presented papers on a range of topics focusing on some facet or another of the leadership of discovery. Our participants included astronomers, historians, psychologists, theologians, and one NASA astronaut-also a professor of aerospace engineering. These scholars made presentations and led discussions on topics such as collaboration and leadership in modern astronomy, dubious claims of a sudden autism epidemic, Lewis and Clark’s “Corps of Discovery,” George Orwell’s social criticism, and many others. Some of these subjects fit conventional notions of discovery-in science, society, or nature-while others did not. Both kinds stimulated a great deal of reflection and conversation. To our great satisfaction, we found that this diverse set of papers raised and illuminated recurring issues about the very nature of leadership and the meaning of discovery.