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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded a $1.3 million grant to Georgia Tech to help strengthen the Institute's undergraduate education programs in the biological sciences.
"I was delighted to receive notification of the HHMI award," said Roger Wartell, chairman of the school of biology. "It comes at an opportune time as the Institute moves to the semester system."
The grant will be used to support summer and academic-year research for undergraduates in the biological sciences in addition to summer research for high school teachers and a lecture-lab summer course for high school students.
Grant money will also go towards Web-based educational technology for a case study approach to lectures and preparation for laboratories in introductory biology, and development of upper-level interdisciplinary courses including mathematical biology and tissue and cell biology.
"Large numbers of students are getting involved in original research projects," said Purnell Choppin, president of HHMI. "It's an experience that will serve them well even if they decide to pursue careers in other fields."
Extensive renovations to the Student Center that went on throughout the summer have been completed. Both the ballroom and box office are now open and ready for use.
The main goal of the renovation project was to allow the ballroom to seat 600 people for a banquet or 900 for a lecture. In addition, dividers have been added allowing the ballroom to be split into two separate rooms.
In order to create more space in the ballroom, the permanent stage at the west end of the room was removed, and the ballroom was extended out to where the balcony was. From now on, temporary staging will be used for all events where it is required. According to Rich Steele, director of the Student Center, the temporary staging will give increased flexibility in stage location.
In addition to the changes with the stage, the hardwood floors and wall finishings were remodeled, a projection screen was added, and the lighting, sound, and heating and air conditioning systems were upgraded. Also, a curved ceiling has replaced the previous flat ceiling.
The project was the first major renovation in the 29 year history of the Student Center.