Natural & Cognitive Sciences: Improved Facilities and Expanded Lab Spaces (2011 Strategic Plan)

Cole Science Center and Adele Simmons Hall fail to project the quality of our science programs, and increasingly they do not fully support the work of existing faculty or the recruitment of new faculty. Laboratories in the basement of Cole Science Center are especially in need of renovation. Natural Science and Cognitive Science faculty need the appropriate facilities in order to engage in their work and to collaborate. Additional faculty and staff FTEs are required to support work in these fields. [See specific proposals from NS and CS].

Comments
Please include your thoughts on the importance of the initiative, how to frame the issue, things that may be missing, and any additional comments here (you can do so by logging into Hampedia and clicking edit):


 * Alynda Wood (09F): Full support. Our labs do not reflect the quality of our program, or of student work. Too many science Div IIIs are forced off campus due to lack of resources. We have a fantastic program, particularly in molecular biology, environmental science, public health and cognitive neuroscience - prospective science students shouldn't be turned away because our labs aren't up to date, and faculty should have enough space to do their research.
 * In terms of Strategic Planning, I view the sciences as being very important. We are already recognized as an arts &amp; humanities school, yet we are also the 50th top undergraduate school for turning out science Ph.D.s. However, our spaces do not reflect this: we depend too much on the science faculty to work with what they have in order to continue producing great science at Hampshire. I think with better spaces and resources for the sciences, we could attract a whole new demographic of students. Devin Morse
 * I hope that, in our effort to provide more lab space, we don't move away from keeping students and faculty working in the same spaces, which I think is an important factor in encouraging outside-the-classroom learning and collaboration. Ellen Green
 * Agreed with all of the above, this is a good thing. Greg Larsen