Racial Imbalance Persists at Elite Public Schools
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New Science School Opens at St. Thomas University
Historically, minorities and women have been underrepresented in doctoral sciences, engineering and other math-intensive programs. Many minority groups in America have not, for myriad reasons, fully participated in the programs; this despite the threat of a pending shortage of young scientists and engineer
By Cynthia Roby-- South Florida Times--St. Thomas University’s School of Science, Technology, and Engineering Management (STU), in a ceremony held on its Miami Gardens campus on Sept. 22, dedicated the Carnival Cruise Lines Science and Technology Building, a research-class facility.
The building, at 16401 NW 37th Ave., was designed to heighten the interest of young students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to university President Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale. University officials say they hope to encourage more young minorities to become interested in the sciences.
Dr. Mae Jemison, a former NASA science mission specialist who is the first black woman to go into space, was the event’s keynote speaker. In 1992, Jemison, who is also a physician, went on a mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavor.
She said children need exposure to the sciences during their curiosity phase.
“But you have to bring them in early, from six to eight years old,’’ she said. “They come into the world curious about everything around them. If you lose them, it’s difficult to bring them back. That’s why I was pleased with the invitation to come to this ceremony. Young people need encouragement; they really just need to come to the universities and experience what is offered.”
The new, 26,000-square-foot building at St. Thomas includes 14 research laboratories, eight teaching laboratories and teaching support facilities for biology, chemistry, computer science and physics. Much of the equipment was donated by NASA.
To date, the cost of the project has been $10.3 million, according to Edward Ajhar, interim dean and assistant professor of physics. Money was raised from various sources, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Ryder Foundation, other private donors and foundations, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy, and grants from the U.S. Department of Education, board members and trustees.
The new science school is involved in several programs aimed at attracting minority students, Ajhar said.