The College of Science (COS) at SIUC has been experiencing tremendous change since 2000. Over 60 new faculty (20 new positions) have been added to our ranks to replace retirements and each of these fine young scientists has brought with them new energy, new ideas and a high level of commitment to excellence. Among the many achievements taking place in the College of Science have been:
- New patents and patent applications dealing with alternative fuels
- A six-fold increase in external grant awards $2M/yr → $12M/yr (see chart)
- Over 300 peer-reviewed publications per year in respected journals
- Prestigious international awards granted
- Seven faculty named Fellows or Diplomats by their professional peers
- Doctoral programs active in every academic department
- Dynamic interdisciplinary research culture established among COS researchers
- Eight faculty with NSF CAREER Awards
As the College moves forward with its 5 year agenda with a new Dean in place, the following goals have been set:
- Increase faculty positions by 20 new positions
- Increase research funding to $13M/yr by 2013
- Expand upon gains made in alternative energy and nano-materials research
- Expand biomedical research within the College and in collaboration with the School of Medicine at SIU
- Increase graduate enrollments by 20%
- Increase undergraduate enrollments in selected degrees by 10-30%
In order to achieve these ambitious but obtainable goals the College of Science must expand and improve its research infrastructure and improve faculty access to specialized core equipment facilities.
Research Grant funds in the College of Science have been increasing steadily each year and are expected to exceed $12 million in Fiscal Year 2011
The College of Science faculty are currently housed in six buildings on campus ranging in construction age from 1928 to 1994. The oldest of these (Parkinson, Lindegren and Neckers Halls) no longer meet the needs of college researchers in terms of modern requirements for safety, flexibility and environmental controls on cleanliness and air quality.
We are therefore seeking to build a new science research building on the SIUC campus that will meet the needs of the College of Science for decades to come. The 120,000 sq. ft. research building being planned will cost ~$80 million and we are seeking to raise $10 million in private donations to match State and SIU system funds to be invested in this new facility.
Among the new and rapidly expanding existing programs and units to be located in this new building will be:
- Facilities to house the expanding research program and graduate program in Geosciences which will include specialized spaces for advanced and alternative fuels research, as well as collaborative efforts with Chemistry on developing Biofuels.
- Laboratories to house state-of-the-art research instrumentation and new and existing faculty for a new interdisciplinary Molecular BioSciences program encompassing the molecular sciences of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics in required ultra-clean laboratories.
- Specialized spaces to house faculty and graduate education programs associated with the creation of the Southern Illinois Middle Mississippi Valley Ecology and Environmental Research (SIMMVEER) Center.
- Laboratories to house new and existing faculty associated with the COS and the SIUMED Cancer Center in a satellite facility for cancer research and translational programs to enhance cancer treatment in the surrounding counties near SIUC.
- House a Science Museum to increase the educational outreach to the community and better communicate the impacts of COS research to the public in southern Illinois.
- Create a science-based Business Incubator (nano-, biotech-, biosensor-, omics-based) in 10% of building space to facilitate interactions with faculty, students at all levels and the business community.
As valued alumni of the College of Science, we are seeking your assistance and support for this effort which will move SIUC COS to the next level of competitiveness and success in biological, physical and biomedical research and education. With your help and the help of others, SIUC will achieve not only its goal to be ranked among the top-75 public research universities nationally but will be recognized as a university of distinction which meets the needs of the State and the region, changing peoples lives through educational attainment and serving as an economic engine for Southern Illinois through basic and applied research, innovation and creativity.
We need you. Please contact us to see how you can help make this a reality.
Click HERE to find my contact information.
Or write:
College of Science Building Fund
Mail Code 4403
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, Illinois 62901 |
