The Study of History

One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies is:

"History is not just a study of the past, it is an explanation of the present." (The Holdovers)

It came up again recently as I was talking to one of my advisor's about their initiatives: the History and Policy project, which is driven by the idea that:

"To be ignorant of history is to be unconsciously trapped by its many influences on the present and by uncritical assumptions about the past. Those grappling with complex policy issues today need to understand how and why previous decisions were made; and to assess evidence and evaluate a range of policy options with the aid of historians’ research.

These are quotes I hold close to me as guides for my work and impact. Historical research and thinking must be part of technological development and policy implementation today, and this begins with greater cross talk across academic disciplines, but also across academia, industry, and policy.