/Weber State College Comment, January 1987, page 2 NSF To Look at Science Ed in Utah In This Issue in science A National Science Foundation offical said that foundation wants to help Utah expand science opportunites for students from kindergarten to the undergraduate level. one and offers hope to the bereaved. a reduction of emphasize the than we have done in the past. We have a couple of programs in that area science education,” said Kathy P. Conrad, a legislative specialist for the Na-; tional Science Foundation. “We want to help ensure a stream of qualified people,” she said. Conrad met with Rolf Kerr, the commissioner of higher education, Randy Moon, the governor's science advisor, and Dr. Dennis M. Travis, dean of the Weber State School of Natural Sciences and chairman of the state committee on mathematics and science right now, but they are fairly limited’ Conrad said. The need for improved math and science education has been over shadowed by a concern for education as a whole, she said, “but the problems have not gone away,” Conrad said. Last year Dr. Travis and Moon gathered 80 secondary education teachers, college professors and itdustry representatives, and prepareda education. Her meeting with the Utah list of recommendations on how to int officials was to assess needs, and consider programs the science foundation. that might fund. “We feel that education in Utah is Personal loss is one of the hardest things to survive. Psychologist Dr. William Rybicki looks at the four seasons that follow the death of a loved and teaching majors who sciences, Conrad said. “We're going to be doing more in undergraduate education next yeaf “Utah has an impending need now in The traditional family of dad working and mom home with the kids is antiquated, said “Bill Cosby” consultant Dr. Alvin Poussaint, and children are the ones suffering. See page 4. areas, Fs reaching a crossroad,” Moon said. “With an increasing school population there are increasing needs.” The’ National Science Foundation has typically funded research at the university level, Conrad said. That prove science education. Conrad noted the recommendations committee parrelled from similar that sugges tions on the federal level. “What we're trying to do is push leads to the development of new’ technologies and economic bases, but | math and science education, whichis does little to encourage science in‘terests in undergraduate college students. The long term effects of that are both a decrease of college students ! crucial if we’re going to continue to have qualified scientists who can stimulate economic Travis said. growth,” Dr See page 5. Scholarship Fund Grows Donations to the Abrelia Seely Hinckley Scholarship fund will double the amount of scholarships that fund will offer to WSC students this spring. The college awarded seven $1,000, Creeping spiders, slithering lizards and | full-year, academic scholarships for the slimy toads are the focus of new i 1986-87 school year, but will offer at ‘research by two WSC zoologists that| least 12 during the next year, said Don may not revolutionize the world, but}, E. Spainhower, development officer. will add to knowledge. the general body off See pages 6-7. Funds for the scholarship are provid'ed by dividends from stock accounts that have grown from an original $50,000 to over $350,000. “The primary aim of the Abrelia See- | Ogden, and was active in community ly Hinckley Scholarship Fund is to provide scholarships for students of’ superior attainment, who otherwise would be unable to attend, or would be and civic affairs in the region. “An interesting feature of the college,” ment is asked or required of the rec pient is asked to pay the scholarship back at some future date, when itis The fund was established two years no written or other promise for repay- delayed in attending Spainhower said. ago by three children the of Mrs. Hin- ckley. Mrs. Hinckley was one of the few Ogden-area woman _ business leaders during the early 1900's. In 1927 she was president of Hinckley Auto in possible for them to do so. However, ment is asked or required of the rece pient. Upon repayment the money becomes part of the principle, and in that way helps build the fund,” he said, Mountain-Top Land Donated | ‘ WANT YOURS Weber State now has three-and-a- half acres of ground at a high elevation The new tax system will be a boon for some, but others are not going to be as to be used for a science field station and observatory. The plot of land, located just east of happy when the tax bill comes. Accountant Dr. Devon Deppe looks at the new Hidden Lake Lodge at Powder the new tax code and its implications. | Mountain in the mountains east of the college campus “is the best possible site See page 9. COMMENT School officials are now seeking funds to build the observatory and science field station on the property. An observatory on the site, which is at the 9,000 foot elevation mark, would be the highest in Utah, Dr. Galli said The school has immediate plans te locate its mobile field station laboratory on the property. for this purpose,” said Dr. Ronald Galli, professor of physics at WSC. Though the college is situated in one of the finest natural resource areas of Executive Editor Howard G. Noel Editor Craig V. Nelson COMMENT is published four times each year: October, January, April and June by the Department of College Relations, 316 Administration Building, Weber State College, Ogden, Utah 84408-1010. COMMENT is mailed to alumni, faculty, staff, the business community and friends of the college at no charge. Second class postage paid at Preston, ID. POSTMASTER: form 3579 to Alumni Relations WSC, Ogden, UT 84408-1011 (USPS 791-360) , the nation it has not enjoyed the benefits of an active field station. With the acquisition of the Powder Mountain property the School of Natural Sciences will experience “a quantum leap forward,” said the school’s dean. The land is a gift of Ogden physician Dr. Alvin developer F. Cobabe, of Powder owner Mountain and ski area, and an alumnus of WSC. “I've always had great interest in the well-being of the community, and of Weber State,” Dr. Cobabe said. The donation will benefit both the college and the community, he said. Dr. Cobabe took his pre-med courses at WSC Dr. Cobabe of Ogden donated land on Powder Mountain that the college will use as a Science field station and observatory. when he was 38 years old. “If it had not been for the encouragement of Weber State I probably would have given it up,” he said. |