Experiments in all branches of science, particularly the biological and chemical sciences, are now far more dependent on sophisticated instruments that are expensive and take up space. When I was a student, there were almost no independent faculty research projects at Lawrence that provided opportunities for students to pursue independent research. Now it is possible for students to obtain excellent research training doing independent projects under the supervision of the same faculty members who are instructing them in courses. Inquiry-based laboratory research projects are extremely important in training students to understand the relationship between experiments done and conclusions reached. It is vitally important for them to understand that science is a process, not a list of facts to be memorized for the next exam.
Science is about problem-solving, asking questions and seeking answers.
Science is a process that students can find useful in endeavors far outside the experimental research laboratory. Buildings shape our interactions and our lives, and this building will shape science at Lawrence for many, many decades into the future, doubtless the entire 21st century. Lawrence now joins the forefront of many universities that have decided to make major financial investments in the future of science education and research by building new science laboratories. I know that the present faculty and students at Lawrence will rise to high levels as a result of this building and that many future generations of students will benefit from the new possibilities it enables. Important as buildings surely are, however, it is the faculty members who teach, motivate, and inspire the students.