Open for business!

State senator and UNI alum Larry McKibben speaks at the dedication of the McCollum Science Hall addition.

The 64,000-square-foot addition to McCollum Science Hall was up and running with the start of classes in the fall. Students attended classes in rooms designed for discussion and team work, worked in modern, well-designed research and teaching laboratories, and many faculty got settled into new offices.

The new space, which provides expanded quarters for the departments of Biology and Chemistry, was officially dedicated October 10. Distinguished guest speakers at the ceremony included Clifford G. McCollum, emeritus professor and former dean of the College of Natural Sciences; the Honorable Larry McKibben, state senator and UNI alumnus ('70); and Regent Robert N. Downer. President Koob welcomed the guests, and Barbara Hetrick and Paul Rider, heads of the Biology and Chemistry departments, respectively, presented remarks on behalf of their departments. They were followed by Michelle Montgomery, a senior double major in Biology and Chemistry, who spoke on behalf of the students.

One of the striking features of the addition is a two-story water wall in the lobby. All of the classrooms have stadium seating, permitting students better visibility of instructors and demonstrations. An underground tunnel connecting McCollum with the botanical center permits faculty and students to take plant specimens to and from classrooms regardless of the weather. "This will enhance our ability to teach students about plants and promote their use of our excellent plant collection," said Hetrick.

Clifford G. McCollum, emeritus professor and former Dean of  the UNI College of Natural Sciences

Biology's portion of the addition includes teaching laboratories for physiology, cell biology and immunology, molecular biology, computing, liberal arts, and anatomy and physiology. Faculty do research in labs designed for cell biology, immunology, physiology, anatomy, virology, developmental biology, biotechnology and molecular biology. The addition also contains 17 Biology faculty offices, a conference room and specialty equipment rooms for the department.

"This new addition provides the infrastructure in the biomedical sciences that will make our students more competitive in the job market or in applying to professional and graduate schools," said Hetrick. "It provides greater opportunities for undergraduate students to do research, to actually participate in the process of generating knowledge, which is what science is all about after all."

One of the attention-grabbing features of Chemistry's domain in the addition is ChemWall, an interactive periodic table/video screen display. Students work in two general chemistry labs, a lab for chemical education, an advanced upper level chemistry lab and a new lab for an NMR instrument. Faculty conduct research in labs for inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physical/analytical chemistry. Eight Chemistry faculty offices, a conference room, student lounge areas and a storage room complete the Chemistry section of the addition.

Dr. Curt Hanson instructs Chemistry major Tim Schramm on handling chemicals in a dry box.	Chemistry major Lynne Dieckman prepares chemical samples for an experiment.	Students discuss a class project in a lounge area of the MSH addition.

"The new space in the McCollum Hall addition provides the Chemistry Department with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for instruction as well as for faculty research activities and expands our potential to enhance the first-rate programs we currently have in place," said Rider. "The faculty is excited about the possibilities and the future looks very bright for them and our students."

Since McCollum Science Hall opened in 1968, when separate departments were formed in the College of Natural Sciences, the departments of Biology and Chemistry have been housed there. At that time, there were 34 Chemistry majors and 85 Biology majors. Today, those numbers are 110 and 576, respectively.
The MSH addition, begun in fall 2001, was funded by a $16.9 million appropriation by the Iowa Legislature. The Carver Foundation provided a $1 million grant for equipment.

   College of Natural Sciences/Connections home page/University of Northern Iowa
Last modified: 12/19/03