Ask anyone for a short list of the most exciting developments of our time, and the answer is likely to include: “the rapidly evolving role of information in our lives.” Ask anyone for a short list of the most vexing developments of our time, and you are likely to get the same answer. This continually changing information landscape creates both high-stakes challenges and rich opportunities. These must be approached in a broadly collaborative way if information in all its forms is to be an effective resource for everyone. To work toward that goal, The Future of Information Alliance – the FIA – was launched at the University of Maryland in 2001, co-founded and directed by a member of the Merrill College faculty, with campus-wide representation and partners including the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, the Newseum, Google and more. You can find out more about the FIA programs at https://fia.umd.edu/.