Technology is always changing and in no field is that change more prevalent than in the sciences. Equipment and techniques are constantly being updated, changed or discarded. Science students discover that, if they aren 't exposed to current information in coll ege, then they can spend years playing catch-up. The Physical Science Department coped with this need for updated equipment by acquiringa scanning fluorimeter. Thecomputercontroll ed fluorimeter measures fluorescence, whi ch is produced when the electrons in an atom become excited, using wavelengths. The fluor imeter replaces a 30-year-old machine that used glass filters to measure the wavelengths. The problem with that system was that many samples could not be measured because the department lacked the proper filters . Dr. Marsha Hendri cks said, "Up to this point, we had no means to look at proteins and nucleic acids because we didn't have the right filters. Now we can look at any mo lecule that we want to." Being able to look at mo lecules for themselves instead of relying on drawings and photos in textbooks is important for biochemistry majors who will spend much of their careers studying molecules. "Our students have a decided advantage because of this hands-on experience. Even though many state schools have th is kind of technology, they usually don 't allow their students to handle it directly because of the cost," Hendricks said. Dr. David Cole, chair of the Physical Science Department, said that this instrument and others like it ensure that our students will not have to apologize for a lack of experience. The fluorimeter is one of many new instruments purchased by the Physical Science Department in the past five to sixyears. Thanks to donations by a few alumni and a grant from NASA, the department has been able to purchase one new instrument every year. Physical science is not the only department that made some improvements this year. The Biafogy Department added a new molecular biology lab. The purpose of the lab was to investigate different cellular and molecular processes. Although the lab has existed in some form for the past two years, thi s was its first year to be fully operational. Dr. Steve Moore said the lab really helped his students understand the things that were discussed in class. "This lab allows students to take a problem, dissect it and research it. This kind of investi gative biology opens their eyes to the techniques that are required to carry out much modern-day research. They are also learning techniques that they will find useful in graduate or medical school," Moore said. This lab will benefit students in molecular biology and molecular genetics. Although molecular biology is not required for all biology majors right now, in upcoming years biology students wi ll have to choose between the molecular lab and the ecology lab. This mo lecular biology lab is a luxury that many schools in Arkansas do not have. Like any other special training, Moore said that this coursewill give Harding students an edge when they are app lying to graduate and medical school. Dani, l Dubois Assistant Professor Keith Schramm and freshman Jamie Curry work together on a density experiment in the morning Chemistry 114 lab. Schramm returned to the classroom this year after a threeyear educational leave. PHYSlCALSClENCE & BIOLOGY 173 •
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