US (MD): New research greenhouse for Stevenson University
The Sara G. Manning Greenhouse is one of the newest additions to Stevenson’s campus. According to Carolyn Danna, senior lecturer in biology, the dedication of the new greenhouse took place during the ceremony that recognized the new Dell Family Pathway and the portrait of former President Kevin J. Manning in the lobby of the Manning Academic Center.
The addition of the greenhouse will positively impact the curriculum of many biology classes. Dr. Samuel Obae, biology professor, said, “having the greenhouse basically gives them [students] the room to manipulate a number of conditions, to investigate whatever hypothesis they have set forth.”
With a major like biology, there are many different career paths that a student can take. This greenhouse will help students to narrow down their decision. Laila Abdul-Rahman, freshman biology major, said, “The new greenhouse will allow for a wider range of classes for biology majors to get a better sense of what they want to do with their degree.”
The greenhouse is creating change not only in the research that students can do, but also for faculty. According to Obae, the greenhouse is organized into two sections to reach the maximum amount of usage. One section is designated for the use of biology classes and their experiments while the other section is reserved for any biology professors who want to do independent research.
This new opportunity for the professors has caused a flood of excitement and innovation in the biology department. “Besides using the greenhouse for teaching, we also — me in particular, and the other professors — plan on using it for research,” said Obae.
With the addition of the new greenhouse, the biology faculty is hoping that it will help attract potential biology and environmental science students to Stevenson. Obae expressed that the biology professors are often asked by applicants if Stevenson has a greenhouse, and now the biology department can say, “Yes, we have a brand-new greenhouse.”
Learn more about the project here at the complete article on the Stevenson Villager (Savana Herndon)