In February 2016, news broke about U.S. Forest Service research on moss that showed high levels of arsenic and cadmium in Portland's air, prompting calls for more oversight and a swift reaction to what lawmakers have identified as “a public health emergency.” Early on, I learned that Dr. Linda George wanted to conduct cutting-edge research on air toxics and heavy metals dispersion in Portland, but that to do so she would need a new piece of equipment for her laboratory—a bench x-ray florescence machine. My boss, ISS Director Robert Liberty, and I discussed this and agreed that it made sense to support Dr. George’s research capacity while also positioning the University to respond to a timely issue of great community concern.