Fairfield University science majors returning to class at the Rudolph F. Bannow Science Center this semester were excited to discovered an array of high tech advancements to their research space. From the construction of eight brand-new, state-of-the-art research, instrumentation, and teaching labs to the installation several advanced research instruments, the College of Arts and Sciences took advantage of the 2019 summer break to implement a series of technology upgrades and facility renovations that have transformed the science facility into a cutting-edge learning environment.

In celebration of National STEM Day on Friday, November 8, the College of Arts and Sciences will host an afternoon of activities from noon until 3 p.m. in the newly renovated science center, including live demonstrations of the labs’ latest research instruments and tours of the building’s upgraded facilities. The event will conclude with a reception in the Bannow Atrium featuring complimentary snacks and beverages at 2 p.m. The entire University community is invited to attend.

In addition to exploring the increased square footage of space devoted to laboratory teaching and research in Bannow, STEM Day participants will also have the chance to view the building’s seven new faculty and laboratory offices, as well as other lab updates, including upgraded air handling systems, lab bench areas, cabinet storage, and vision panels that offer a more expansive view into the rooms.

“Our recent equipment purchases and lab upgrades have put us ahead of many of our peer competitor institutions in terms of research capability,” said Glenn Sauer, PhD, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Scientists from other schools are now coming to Fairfield to collaborate with our faculty, and our students are conducting research with the same technology used in industrial labs. Not all universities can offer undergraduate students this level of hands-on research and training, which gives our students a competitive advantage when it comes to pursuing their own graduate, medical, or industrial careers.”

In the past few years, the University has been awarded funding from the National Science Foundation to purchase a variety of advanced researched technology, including a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer, a 400-MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer, an anatomage virtual dissection table, and most recently, a state-of-the-art automated research microscope. Each of these instruments are currently being housed within the new Bannow labs and will be available for viewing on National STEM Day.  

For more information, contact Dr. Sauer at gsauer@fairfield.edu.