Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | fall 2006

FALL 2006
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Cover Story:
>> Good Chemistry

• On science, creativity, and cooking
• In science, one is not the loneliest number
• Bacteria Buster
• GAMESS people play
• Boldly going where no man has gone before
• Have mercy!
• The $12 billion man
• I think we can help
• Chemistry alumni and faculty of note
• Henry Gilman: Iowa State's master chemist
• Chemistry experiments with a new way to teach
• The campaign for chemistry

Feature Story:
An Exemplary Leader

Feature Story:
Special Olympics USA National Games

Feature Story:
Alumni Days 2006

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The reigning queen of concrete

Alumni Profile:
Major wager

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THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHEMISTRY

The chemical sciences at Iowa State University need new facilities.

That’s the bottom line, according to an external review team, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, and department chair Jacob Petrich.

“We have great instrumentation, but no place to put it,” says Petrich. “Gilman Hall has no acceptable space to draw outstanding faculty, so they must be housed at the Ames Lab. The space in Gilman is acceptable for teaching, but not for 21st century research.”

The current chemistry building, Gilman Hall, was completed in 1914, and Gilman Annex was added in 1965. A phased renovation of the old portion of the building began in 1982, but incremental renovations have proved to be inefficient and costly. The building shows deficiencies including issues with humidity, temperature, vibration, and dust.

“Chemistry is one of our great departments, and they need improved facilities,” said Geoffroy.

In a proposal to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, the university requested funds to help support a
new building containing state-of-the-art classrooms, computer laboratories, teaching and research labs, shops/instrument services, faculty/administrative offices, graduate student offices, and interaction spaces. Included in ISU’s FY07 budget is $5 million in planning money for the addition to Gilman Hall. Total cost of the project is estimated at $70.6 million in new construction and $16.5 million to renovate vacated space following construction.

“Modern facilities are required to recruit outstanding young faculty researchers and to retain them at ISU,” said Petrich. “A new chemistry building is crucial to future growth and success of not only the department, but also the college and the university.”

The chemical sciences project will be a key capital initiative in the university’s upcoming comprehensive campaign.

About the Writer | Carole Gieseke is the editor of VISIONS magazine.