SPRING 2008

$550,000 renovation improves science laboratories

There is a new buzz in Rome Hall, but its source is not a beehive or a juicy piece of news. Instead, the gentle sound comes from eight new fume hoods installed in laboratories of Shorter’s School of Science and Mathematics. This campus improvement was part of a $550,000 renovation project completed in the fall of 2007 to increase the labs’ safety and functionality.

“When students work with volatile chemicals, there are always dangers,” explained Dr. Theunis van Aardt, assistant professor of chemistry. “These laboratory improvements provide a safer environment for learning organic chemistry and other areas of scientific study. With these renovations, we are proactively moving forward and ahead of other institutions of similar size and budget.”

Each fume hood allows pairs of students to work with chemicals in a controlled area where vapors are released through vents on the building’s roof. The hoods also include protection shields, internal water lines, nearby power sockets and monitoring alarms. In addition to the fume hoods for the organic chemistry and genetics laboratories, four air units were installed on the roof of Rome Hall to function with the hoods. New tabletops featuring an improved, environmentally-sound surface that is resistant to most chemicals were purchased for the organic chemistry lab. Improved safety showers and eye-washing stations were also added to the labs. Visit Shorter College's Department of Natural Science online to learn more about Shorter's science programs.