Lawrence celebrated its 150th birthday last weekend. Those organizing the event started working several years ago, studying ideas and ways to commemorate this important anniversary, encourage residents to learn more about the city’s history, and establishing a project or program that would be a fitting and lasting tribute to the sesquicentennial.

Although the celebration recognized the importance of the past and the courage of early settlers, equal attention was given in the latter stages of the almost-yearlong celebration to the future. What is the future of Lawrence? What will the city and area be like in 2054, and what must Lawrence leaders and residents do to take advantage of our many opportunities?

Last Friday and Saturday, Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, and Judith Ramaley, assistant director of the National Science Foundation, visited Lawrence and Kansas University to learn more about KU and its research capabilities. It was a rare coup to get these two powerful officials to Lawrence. Both Zerhouni and Ramaley acknowledged there is a “buzz” about Lawrence and KU and their commitment to build the biosciences industry.

These two heavyweights, who control hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants, stressed the importance of attracting and retaining top-flight, nationally and internationally recognized scientists.

Zerhouni noted, “You have created a buzz here. The question is, how do you exploit that?”

Wednesday and Thursday, the Kansas Bioscience Authority board held its first organizational meeting in Overland Park. The goal of this authority is to take stock of the state’s strengths and assets in the field of biosciences. The group will study how to attract world-class scientists and researchers, how to attract and develop future all-stars in the field, how to help existing companies engaged in biosciences and how to commercialize these assets to benefit Kansas.

These three events — the city’s sesquicentennial, the Regional Biosciences Collaborative Summit and the confirmation of the members of the Kansas Biosciences Authority — all have focused attention on the future of the city and state and the importance of recognizing forecasts that say the biosciences industry will be a huge factor in economic development in the coming years.

Those attending the birthday celebration, the biosciences gathering at KU and the Biosciences Authority meeting in Kansas City could sense the enthusiasm, eagerness and desire to help Kansas grow, plan for the future and take advantage of the state’s assets.

Kansans are excited about moving ahead, but they need to be told how to get the ball rolling. They know competition from other states with similar goals will be fierce. They know they can’t coast and that complacency is the surest way to fall behind.

It would be foolish to suggest Kansas, the university and the city of Lawrence do not have some weaknesses or vulnerabilities, but, at the same time, there are many reasons to be optimistic and enthusiastic about the future.

There is every reason for Kansas to be a leader, for Lawrence to be a leader and for the university to be a leader. Why not do such a good job of planning for the future that those in other states would ask, “Why can’t we do what they have done in Kansas?” or “Why can’t we do what they have done at Kansas University?” or “Why can’t we do what they have done in Lawrence?”

The past is great in many ways, and there are lessons to learn, but the future must be addressed. The state of Kansas, the university and the city of Lawrence want to be leaders, not be in the position of eating the dust of other states, universities and cities.

What the state needs most, at least in this writer’s opinion, are leaders, men and women with vision and courage who can excite, inspire and help lead the state to greater successes in education, business, health care, research, job growth and other pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that will combine to make Kansas a great place to live, work and play.

But who and where are the leaders in Kansas today? In past years, a man like the late Franklin Murphy, a former KU chancellor, was able to inspire and mobilize the state. Can KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway or Kansas State’s Jon Wefald move in and take on that role? Who are the statewide leaders in business or government? Clay Blair, former chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, has worked with legislators, educators and those in the business community to accomplish many innovative programs that will benefit the state. State Rep. Kenny Wilk of Lansing has worked with fellow lawmakers and Blair to develop sound, progressive new programs to benefit Kansas. There are others throughout the state who individually have accomplished much, but who stands out as having the ability, drive and commitment to lead the state and its people to greater levels of success?

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is in a good position to set high goals for the state and its people, but with Republicans holding large majorities in the Kansas House and Senate, can she and legislative leaders work together to come up with challenging goals for the state and ways to achieve those goals?

Former Gov. Bill Graves had every opportunity to lead and set high goals, even if it meant stepping on some toes, but he failed to take advantage of his unique opportunities. After being re-elected by a large margin, Graves enjoyed large majorities in the House and Senate during his last term as governor. He didn’t have to worry about offending anyone because he couldn’t seek re-election and he didn’t have much chance of ousting Sen. Pat Roberts or Sen. Sam Brownback. He missed a great chance to move the state forward and, consequently, the state lost four years in its competition with other states.

Again, where are the leaders? Kansans want to go to work to improve the state. There is a pent-up energy waiting to be put into motion, but the leadership is lacking.