SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
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News Archive 2000 1999 1998 1997 SCHOOL OF SCIENCE WELCOMES NEW FACULTY FOR 2001-2002
The School of Science
welcomes new faculty for the 1999/2000 academic year.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE Several construction projects are underway for the 1999-2000 academic year. Nick 69, one of the old biology teaching laboratories, and several preparation and experiment rooms, are being gutted and renovated. The new facility will consist of two advanced laboratories: one a molecular biology/biochemistry lab and the other an anatomy/physiology lab. There will also be smaller special purpose spaces: a radiation laboratory (with controlled access), a tissue culture laboratory, and an equipment room. The new facility will provide state-of-the-art teaching laboratories for advanced biology courses, which are needed for our rapidly expanding biology major (now at over 100 students). The photography dark rooms in Hammermill will be removed and the space converted to an advanced physics lab. The lab will provide space for the junior/senior level optics, electronics, and research methods courses, as well as for a new, intensive solid state course emphasizing experimental applications. Some people are sorry to see the old dark rooms go, but they are being phased out by digital imaging technology. Completion of construction of both the Nick and the Hammermill projects is scheduled for August, just before classes begin. We
are in the design phase for a new campus astronomical
observatory. We plan a 7" refracting telescope
to be housed in a 15-ft. diameter dome. The telescope will
be optimized for use in introductory courses and for Open
House Nights in Astronomy, as well as for advanced
observations with CCD cameras. The dome will probably be
located behind Otto Behrend Science, near the smaller,
existing dome. Final design and site studies will be
completed in June. Construction is scheduled for the
1999/2000 academic year. The physics major has been revised to include two options: General Physics and Computational Physics. "After consideration of where many of our physics majors were going with their careers, we determined that an option in applied physics would be helpful to them," said Dr. Bill Baxter, associate professor of physics. "The two options will continue to share basic core courses, but the computational physics option will require more hands-on computer and electronics experience." These skills are currently in demand and will benefit students going directly into industry upon graduation. The general physics option will continue to be encouraged for students who want to move on to graduate study. CENTER FOR MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY Penn State Erie announces the formation of the Penn State Behrend Center for Mathematical Biology. The Center will coordinate, encourage, support, and publicize collaborative research between mathematicians and biologists. The members of the Center are Paul Barney (Biology), Richard Bertram (Mathematics), Pamela Silver Botts (Biology), Michael Campbell (Biology), Carl Panetta (Mathematics), Joseph Paullet (Mathematics), and Joseph Previte (Mathematics). Activities of the center will initially focus on areas of current faculty expertise, which include electrical activity in nerve and secretory cells, spiral wave formation in chemical and biological systems, modeling the effects of chemotherapy on cancer, and biological patterns in heterogeneous habitats. Penn State Behrend faculty have made numerous research contributions in these fields, as well as recently sponsoring a National Science Foundation-funded summer program in mathematical biology. Future growth is planned in areas complementing current research interests. SCHOOL
OF SCIENCE STUDENTS MISHIC AND CAIN RECEIVE Penn State Behrend science seniors Sandra Kay Mishic and Julie Diane Cain received two of Penn State's most prestigious senior awards in a ceremony held Sunday, March 22, at University Park. Mishic received the John W. Oswald Award, and Cain received the Ralph Dorn Hetzel Memorial Award. The Oswald Award is presented to a graduating senior who has excelled in at least one of the following areas: scholarship, athletics, social service, religious activity, student government, and communication. The Hetzel Award recognizes the achievements and potential of an outstanding undergraduate who has demonstrated leadership during his or her college career and who gives promise of public-spirited achievement in the future. Mishic, a biology major from Kane, served as a research assistant to Dr. Pam Botts, assistant professor of biology, and received a research grant from the National Science Foundation in 1996-97. Cain, an applied mathematics major from Apollo, Pa., worked with Dr. Richard Bertram, assistant professor of mathematics, to create her Honors thesis on the computational study of insulin secretion. EMERITUS STATUS FOR TWO SCHOOL OF SCIENCE RETIREES Dr. Richard Bollinger, Professor of Mathematics, and Dr. Harry Cunningham, Associate Professor of Biology, have been awarded emeritus status. Dr. Bollinger and Dr. Cunningham retired in July 1997 after many years of service to Penn State. We are fortunate that they are still frequently on campus, continuing to pursue their research interests. At their November meeting, the Penn State Trustees approved the name change "School of Science" from the old "Division of Science." The change reflects the maturing of science programs (as well as Humanities and Social Sciences which is also a school now) at Behrend College, and makes our name consistent with those of Business and Engineering. NEW COMPUTER SCIENCE AND STATISTICS MINORS We have added the Computer Science Minor and the Statistics Minor to the science programs. The new minors should have wide appeal to students in science and other disciplines, since skills in these areas are in strong demand in industry and academia. While the official start date is January 1998, students who will have fulfilled the requirements in time for December 1997 graduation may also declare the new minors. For more information see Mr. Ron McCarty (ron@psu.edu) for Computer Science and Dr. Anthony Salvia (aas@psu.edu) for Statistics. 1998
UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM IN Penn State Behrend is hosting a NSF-funded undergraduate summer research program in mathematical biology from July 6 to July 31, 1998. Student participants will work in teams with faculty on projects in the fields of cancer modeling, pattern formation in active media, and the modeling of electrically excitable cells. More information on this program can be found on the Mathematics home page. PENN STATE BEHREND, LECOM AFFILIATION AGREEMENT Penn State Behrend and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) have signed an affiliation agreement that provides an accelerated curriculum for select Penn State-Behrend students who want to obtain a medical degree from LECOM. The "3+4 Accelerated Program in Primary Care" allows pre-med biology students to transfer to LECOM after three years at Penn State-Behrend and complete the requirements for the biology major in the first year at LECOM. The program reduces the total time in undergraduate college plus medical school by one year. More information and admissions procedures are found on the Biology page. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION Students interested in careers in elementary and secondary science teaching may wish to look into a new Penn State Behrend/Mercyhurst College agreement. The program provides students with the opportunity to pursue a five-year Pennsylvania Teacher Certification by combining a four-year degree in a discipline at Penn State-Behrend with a fifth year in education and student teaching at Mercyhurst College. For more information, contact Dr. Kathryn Wolfe, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, (814)898-6449; e-mail kww2@psu.edu. We've heard from some 1997 graduates who've started graduate school. Other students go into business or industry after graduation, and we'd like to hear from them also. If you're a Penn State Behrend math/science graduate of any year, send us a message and let us know what you're doing. Students Attending Graduate School:
Lisa Borgia, Florida International University, Biology |