University officials are solidifying plans to build a new Science Center by 2011, in spite of concerns that the planning has been hampered by fundraising issues and administrative foot-dragging.
“They’ve realized that this is something that urgently needs to be addressed and they’re sincere,” Physics Professor Edward Van Keuren, a member of the Sciences Academic and Program Planning Committee, said. “At this stage of the game, I’m happy with the administration’s efforts.”
The new Science Center, originally proposed in a University plan 15 years ago, is currently expected to cost approximately $100 million and will be built next to the forthcoming McDonough Business School building in lot T, the former baseball field next to the Leavey Student Center, according to Marjory Blumenthal, the associate provost for Academic Affairs, who leads the committee. She expects the Office of Advancement, the University’s fundraising center, to dedicate a staff member to science center fundraising in the next year.
According to both Blumenthal and Van Keuren, there is a perception that Georgetown’s academics are imbalanced, with more prestige granted to the social sciences. They hope the new building, and the overall science master plan that will come out of the committee, will rejuvenate the sciences, leading to increased recruitment of science students and faculty as well as more productive research.
“A number of universities have built really exciting science buildings … I’m looking forward to our exciting building,” Blumenthal said.
The committee, made up faculty and administration representatives, expects to have formalized their proposal by next February.
