RIVER FALLS – Monday, Jan. 26 marked a day years in the making when the University of Wisconsin-River Falls new Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) opened for its first day of courses.
“We had about two years of design and two and a half years of construction,” mentioned Alan Symicek, chief services officer at UWRF. “So this is really exciting to see students in here today.”
Symicek mentioned power conservation was a main focus of the state-of-the-art facility. The constructing can also be designed to be versatile in order that it may be tailored to altering science and expertise far into the long run.
“I absolutely count on this constructing to be right here 100 years from now serving our college students,” Symicek mentioned.
Another particular characteristic is inside home windows that give a view into the labs and school rooms.
“The theme of the constructing is science on show,” Symicek mentioned. “We want people to be able to walk down the corridor, see what’s going on in rooms and get excited about it.”
SciTech options 32 undergraduate analysis areas, 12 educational labs and versatile pupil and school collaboration areas. The constructing is the new residence of hands-on studying alternatives in biology, chemistry, physics and psychological sciences at UWRF. It additionally homes the new University Business Collaboration Center (UBCC), designed to speed up collaboration and partnerships with companies in STEM fields and past.
Teagan Gazdzik, a sophomore physics and Spanish main from St. Cloud, Minn., was one of the primary college students in the constructing Monday for an 8 a.m. class – Math for Physics and Engineering II. He’ll spend most of his time in SciTech this semester.
“This is amazing,” Gazdzik mentioned. “This was one of the things that drew me into River Falls. I knew I was going to major in something related to physics or engineering. Getting in here this semester is really special.”
Karl Peterson, dean of UWRF’s College of Arts and Sciences, mentioned the opening of SciTech was a day the college had been trying ahead to as a lot as the scholars.
“Our faculty are extraordinary teachers and scholars, and SciTech gives them the modern tools and spaces they need to take an already exceptional academic experience to the next level,” Peterson mentioned. “This facility supports the kind of collaborative, inquiry-driven teaching that defines UWRF, ensuring our students are challenged, supported and inspired every day.”
Rick Foy, assistant chancellor for University Advancement, mentioned beneficiant donations helped make SciTech a actuality.
“On this historic opening day of SciTech, we acknowledge the many donors who generously supported this transformational project,” Foy mentioned. “Led by a $1 million gift from Jeff and Kristi Cernohous, UWRF ’94, our donors made it possible for us to meet our goal of $5 million as part of the university’s financial commitment to the $117 million facility. On behalf of all of us at UWRF, I express deep appreciation to all our contributors. We look forward to publicly honoring donors at SciTech’s grand opening on Tuesday, March 31.”
The group might be invited to tour SciTech through the grand opening celebration from 4 to six p.m.
Submitted by UW-River Falls
Keywords
UW-River Falls,
Science and Technology Innovation Center,
SciTech,
River Falls,
Wisconsin