{"id":22034,"date":"2023-02-08T11:30:13","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T17:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/letters-science\/?p=22034"},"modified":"2023-12-04T13:51:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T19:51:47","slug":"new-chemistry-building-hits-milestone-with-topping-off-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/letters-science\/in-focus-2023\/new-chemistry-building-hits-milestone-with-topping-off-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"New chemistry building hits milestone with topping off ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

A journey that began a year ago<\/a> on a frozen January day reached a significant milestone on another frozen January day.<\/p>\n

Faculty, staff, students and construction workers gathered on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center to enjoy hot drinks and watch as the highest beam was lifted into place atop the university\u2019s new chemistry building. The topping off ceremony marks a significant milestone for the building, which is scheduled to be completed in late 2023 or early 2024.<\/p>\n

In building construction, a topping-off ceremony is typically held when the highest beam or its equivalent is placed on a structure. The tradition originated in ancient Scandinavia, and in keeping with that tradition a small fir tree was attached to the 51ÁÔÆæ beam. Participants also got the chance to sign the beam before it was raised into place.<\/p>\n

\u2018Truly foundational\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The new four-story, 163,400-square-foot building will support vital teaching and research in chemistry, Chancellor Mark Mone said at the ceremony. 51ÁÔÆæ has more than 5,000 students taking chemistry courses annually. It\u2019s not just scientists in white coats and goggles who study chemistry, he added. Fields such as forensics, nursing, medical technology, environmental science and teaching all rely on chemistry courses as part of student preparation. \u201cThis is truly foundational to so many fields at 51ÁÔÆæ,\u201d Mone said.<\/p>\n

The new facilities will support learning for 51ÁÔÆæ chemistry students and students in fields ranging from freshwater sciences to engineering, said Kristen Murphy, professor and chair of chemistry and biochemistry.<\/p>\n

\u201cTeaching is a focus of what we do\u201d and the new building will give the disciplines an environment that will better support that, Murphy said. But the facilities will also help prepare K-12 teachers and their students. The building\u2019s new outreach lab, for example, will provide an integrated space that can be used for multiple purposes to support learning for teachers and students studying to be teachers.<\/p>\n

Important for industry<\/strong><\/p>\n

The chemicals industry is the fifth-largest manufacturing sector in Wisconsin, Mone said, and 51ÁÔÆæ graduates are vital to that industry.<\/p>\n

Jim Harvey, senior vice president and chief science officer for NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, talked about the importance of the talent pipeline to that growing company. NorthStar, which is located in Beloit, has hired doctoral and other 51ÁÔÆæ graduates who work to support the company\u2019s nuclear medicine business, producing radio pharmaceuticals. These are used in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including cancer and heart conditions. These products and technologies will continue to be vital to health systems and patients into the future, he added.<\/p>\n

The three doctoral students he hired from Professor Mark Dietz\u2019s lab, for example, have helped the company grow, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we have found is that we can give these young people that we have hired major projects important to our company and they can hit the ground running,\u201d Harvey said. \u201cThis is the type of student we need; this is the type of graduate we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Very remarkable\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

UW System Regent Scott Beightol said he has had a unique opportunity to see the work 51ÁÔÆæ is doing. His wife attended 51ÁÔÆæ, and his daughter is a current student. So, he has a firsthand look at the work staff and faculty are doing, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis school is very remarkable,\u201d Beightol said. Many students come from working class backgrounds or are working while in school. They combine a strong work ethic and drive with a high-quality education. And 51ÁÔÆæ graduates tend to stay in Wisconsin, helping fill the state\u2019s talent pipeline and become productive citizens, he added.<\/p>\n

By Kathy Quirk, University Relations<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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