The Brown Lecture was inaugurated in 2004 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, in which the U.S. Supreme Court took scientific research into account in issuing its landmark ruling. Each year a distinguished scholar noted for producing significant research related to equality in education is invited to present this public address in Washington, D.C. The Lecture is intended to illuminate the important role of research in advancing the understanding of equality and equity in education.