Since 1992, the Biology and Biotechnology Department has been working towards obtaining appropriations for much needed enhancements to the current laboratories. Currently, the microscopy and fluorescent microscopes are housed with the electrical panel for the Salisbury building with wooden sub-flooring and the greenhouse consists of a corridor with skylights. Therefore it is not suprising that improvements scheduled include a new greenhouse, two common facility microscope suites, research labs for three professors, and two project labs. Reconstruction has already begun this summer on the biology prep room. Heating and airconditioning, coldboxes, and fume hoods are just some of the structural elements which are to be added to Salisbury.
Salisbury labs, one of the original three buildings on campus, was last renovated in the 1970's. Unfortunately, that renovation was of a poor, piece-meal quality. Many of the labs are currently not functional; the heating is poorly structured, there is no distilled water capability and the fume hoods do not work properly. Thus, they are both disfunctional and unsafe. In order for many of the scheduled improvements to be approved, structural assessment had to be made of the wood structure of the building. For example, could the wooden floor and beams support the weight of the sea water tanks that are looking to be added to Professor Dan Gibson's research labs.
With the dramatic increase of interest in the biology and biotechnology fields, this grant has come at a time where it is much needed. The biology and biotechnology department is currently the fourth largest on campus. In 1987, twelve people graduated with degrees in that area whereas there are now a total of more than 300 students are registered as bio-biotech majors! As the number of students grows, so does the number of projects completed in the area. It was the added interest in project work that helped push this grant through.
Renovations are scheduled to be completed in the summer of '97. The Biology and Biotechnology Department is "... pleased at this beginning of research support, but the department still needs more." For example, teaching labs would make a great addition to this expanding area of interest. In the words of Jill Rulfs, Associate Professor of Biology and Biotechnology, "This is just the tip of the iceberg!"
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