In the fourth in a series of five articles examining The Campaign for Pomona College, objective by objective, Pomona College Magazine takes a look at Objective 4: Sustaining Leadership in Science.
The Art of Science
Anyone visiting campus this summer will find "a work in progress" in the way of new and improved science facilities at Pomona. The new Andrew Science Building for Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science opened in January 2000, and the renovation of the Seaver North laboratory for chemistry has just begun.
Even more changes--all good--are on the way. Pomona's master plan for science will create a complex of state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories that support current interactive teaching and research methods and have flexibility to allow for future changes in pedagogy and research.
"Our push is toward interactive and participatory learning. Students have always benefited from doing hands-on work in science laboratories. Now we have devised similar methods for the classroom and utilize labs that are project- and teamwork-oriented where students perform 'real world' science as opposed to just following directions," says Associate Dean of the College and Professor of Chemistry Fred Grieman.
Pomona's science facilities, some over 30 years old, do not support these newer styles of teaching. "Millikan and Seaver laboratories, for example, are outmoded. Their lecture halls and internal division is rigid and inflexible, necessitating the major redesigns we have planned and urgently need," explains Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Hans Palmer.
Additionally, buildings have become overcrowded--at a time when scientific knowledge is expanding and more Pomona students are graduating with science degrees, up from 22.3% in 1991 to 38.7% in 1999.
To implement the five-phase master plan, science has become a primary objective of The Campaign for Pomona College. As of June 2000, $14.7 million has been raised for science toward a $35 million goal.
As the facilities are modernized, professors are revising, improving and updating their curricula as well. "Many programs have been altered to support continuous faculty-student research interaction, and to introduce students to doing and appreciating research from their start at Pomona," says Palmer. Introductory biology courses, for example, have smaller class sizes to facilitate these changes.
Another curricular change is the addition of interdisciplinary programs--mirroring new frontiers in science--such as molecular biology and neuroscience. These programs will be physically linked to their sister programs in other departments, optimizing efficiency, collaboration and creativity.
With the opening of the Andrew Science Building for Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, phase one of the master plan is complete. Edward J. '56 and Edith '57 Andrew helped fund the building, which adjoins Millikan Laboratory.
"The Andrew Building provides a home for computer science; high technology mathematics classrooms; an astronomy classroom with an amazing array of projection and computer technology (including a connection to JPL and Pomona's telescope); an introductory physics classroom and laboratory; and modern physics research laboratories," says Grieman.
"It's a tremendous addition to our program," adds Tom Moore, associate professor of physics. "The introductory physics classroom is arranged with three-person tables, making it easy to switch between working in small groups and lecturing. This superior layout helps make active, participatory learning a more natural part of our teaching."
The classroom is equipped with a laptop at each table to help students visualize difficult concepts and test various hypotheses. "We've greatly expanded our use of computer simulations and calculations in introductory courses. The range of possibilities is astonishing. Computers will become increasingly important in our classroom in years to come," says Moore.
Phase two of the master plan is the renovation of the Seaver North chemistry building. Aging systems will be replaced, and dedicated high-powered computational capabilities installed, to improve the use of technology.
The chemistry department is already benefiting from a new 400 MHz NMR spectrometer, acquired through a federal grant and matching Campaign funds. Students have hands-on use of the instrument in organic and physical chemistry laboratories; and in an advanced NMR Spectroscopy course where they choose an NMR technique to perform an experiment.
Chemistry professors Wayne Steinmetz and Dan O'Leary utilize the spectrometer in collaborative research projects with students. "O'Leary has published several papers with student co-authors and I have submitted one with three student co-authors. Our work critically depends on the advanced features of the new Bruker NMR," says Steinmetz.
"Additionally, our ability to write competitive proposals for student-faculty research is directly tied to the existing science infrastructure. With the new NMR, we can propose to have students investigate interesting scientific problems and not worry about someone questioning our facilities. It helps us stay competitive for federal and private funding," O'Leary says.
With phase two under way, and only two years remaining in the Campaign, funding to construct a new biology building is urgently needed--the third phase of the master plan. Now in the planning stages, the building will be modern and flexible to support state-of-the-art equipment and the new curriculum. Construction is scheduled for 2003-2004.
"Biology classes today are discussion rich and critical thinking-oriented, while laboratories are investigative. We emphasize modern techniques, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction, using equipment that was not foreseen when our current labs were designed. Thus, our existing facilities--with rows of bolted down chairs and laboratories that lack space for major equipment--have hampered our efforts to teach as we now desire. However, we try our best to do so, in spite of the facilities," explains Laura Hoopes, professor of biology.
Phase four is the renovation of Seaver South, scheduled for 2004-2005. Current biology spaces will be redesigned for psychology, now located in Mason Hall. Geology spaces will be upgraded, especially to improve computer technology.
The final phase of the plan is the renovation of the Millikan physics and mathematics building.
"For decades, Pomona's legendary science program has produced a number of distinguished alumni. We wish to continue this tradition," says Palmer. "We also believe that science education is not just for science majors, but part of a liberal arts education--all of which must be of the highest quality. Everything we do in science is in service to our mission for all Pomona students."
--Linda Moffa
