Science Learning Center and CURO

Increased CURO participation validates need for Science Learning Center

By Jessica Luton

jluton@uga.edu

Recent news of a twenty percent increase in participation among undergraduate students through the CURO program, alongside news that UGA will finally be getting a new Science Learning Center, are two great pieces of news for the UGA community.

By investing money in a new building and further supporting research, the University is polishing the projected image of UGA as a research institution.

The projected $44.7 million project would create a 122,500-square-foot modern space for undergraduate laboratory teaching the STEM disciplines—science, technology, engineering and math. 

Providing more space for students to conduct valuable science research should be a priority, said UGA President Jere W. Morehead.

"The Science Learning Center is the top priority I submitted to the regents this year as president, and I am most pleased and grateful that the chancellor and board are supporting it," said UGA President Jere W. Morehead in last week’s press release. "This will place the university at the forefront of offering students the very best facilities in science education, and will advance the governor's goal of expanding the pipeline for students in the STEM disciplines."

Additionally, plans are in the works to modernize the spaces in the 1960s era Chemistry and Biological Sciences buildings so that faculty can have a better environment to conduct research.

Amping up facilities that help support a growing science, math, engineering and technology student body interest is of upmost importance going forward.  Kudos to the University for moving forward on these improvements.

Interested in knowing more about the CURO program? Visit http://curo.uga.edu/.

Image: Senior genetics major and anthropology minor Austin Garner artificially pollenates mimulus plants as he works on his CURO project in the botany greenhouses, courtesy of UGA photo services.