Professor of Physics, Wells College
Thank you very much for asking me to talk a little bit about what we do at Wells College. For you, our guests, today will be a unique chance to watch faculty and students in action. You will see us in classes and labs, in conversation about student research, internships, and other on- and off-campus science opportunities. At lunch we can talk about the academic environment at Wells. In the afternoon we will open our classroom and laboratory doors to you -- all for you to see a typical working day at Wells College in science and math. I suppose you could say that today all of us at Wells will celebrate Columbus Day with our own Journey of Discovery! (Don't worry, our October break was last week, so we had a vacation too.)
My colleagues and I are scientists and mathematicians because we are passionate about the process of discovery. We see this as the essence of a liberal arts education. Many of us, myself included, have taught and done research at large universities, and certainly benefited from the experience. But we all see something unique and wonderful about teaching science and math at a small college like Wells. We get to know our students strengths; we can plan courses so that they better meet student interests and needs; and, while as faculty all of us are researching new things all the time, our first priority is providing an excellent education for our students. And Wells students do take science courses! For example, in physics, nearly 25% of all graduates will have taken calculus-based introductory physics - an extraordinary statistic for any liberal arts college. The percentages are even higher in chemistry and biology. Nevertheless, Wells classes are small; everybody is encouraged to participate and interact, in a kind of educational collaboration.
You'll have an opportunity to meet and talk with most of our faculty today. We have a lot of information to share with you about our majors (biological and chemical sciences; mathematical and physical sciences; environmental policy, science and values) and other things that we do, including programs for pre-medical and pre-veterinary training, and 3/2 engineering. We can also help you see how a major in one of these areas is excellent training for further study and for a host of careers and professions.
One thing that Wells students are not afraid to do is to speak out, to ask questions. I hope you catch that spirit today - we welcome your questions, so that we can know better what it is you want to understand. So, please, no matter where you are as the day progresses, speak out and get the answers you need.
Here's a question you might already have asked: "Who are these other visitors who have also chosen to come to Aurora, New York today?" Some partial answers:
Some comments about today's afternoon schedule: We have set aside an hour for lunch, with you, students and faculty. Let's eat quickly during the first half-hour, so that we give ourselves ample time during the second half-hour to talk in small groups at several "information tables" about the specifics of Wells' majors and programs. This would be a good time to set up one-on-one meetings with faculty too, or to exchange e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
This afternoon, from 1:30-2:45 p.m., we have the following to offer you on this typical working day:
In addition, I will be available in the Electronics Lab, working informally with students in PHYS 351, an undergraduate research course; and Professor Sally Sievers will be in her office, ready to talk about mathematics.
Please come and go as you please; stay as long as you like, but be sure to see everything you want to see. Look around; ask questions. Imagine yourself discovering, investigating, and collaborating. We think you will like what you see and discover.
Delivered Monday, October 13, 1997, Art Exhibit Room, Wells College
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