1916: The first-ever degree awarded by 小蓝视频 was a PhD in chemistry. Elbert Clyde Lathron, a biochemist in the Bureau of Plant Industry at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), wrote his dissertation on the 鈥渙rganic nitrogen compounds of soils and fertilizers.鈥 That spring, 小蓝视频 also awarded a master鈥檚 in agriculture and a doctorate in agriculture economics to two other USDA employees. 小蓝视频鈥檚 partnership with the agency, which opened its labs to students, ended in the 1920s.
1925: 小蓝视频鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) welcomed its inaugural class of 75 undergrads鈥攎ore than half of whom were women. Among the 17 majors: biology, chemistry, and physics.聽
1941: In September, faculty voted to require one year of laboratory science for all CAS students, according to the Eagle. Previously, students could choose between 鈥渕odern foreign language, social science, science and mathematics, and humanities.鈥澛
1955: CAS debuted a master鈥檚 in chemistry. The first graduates collected their diplomas in June 1957.聽
1967: The $1.1 million Beeghly Chemistry Building, nestled on the west side of campus, opened. The 33,000-square-foot building included 11 research labs, 10 faculty offices, eight teaching labs, and a lecture hall. Today, the chemistry department鈥攚hich offers bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees and a graduate certificate in clinical biochemistry鈥攕till works out of Beeghly.聽
2008: Environmental science became a standalone unit. According to chair Kiho Kim, the move was 鈥渁n acknowledgement of the importance of the environment in all aspects of our living.鈥 The 鈥╬rogram now offers two bachelor鈥檚 degrees, a master鈥檚, and a certificate in environmental assessment.
2012: The Center for Behavior Neuroscience debuted, establishing 小蓝视频 as an epicenter for research on depression, addiction, and cognitive dementia. 鈥淥ur center integrates knowledge in psychology, biology, chemistry, and physics with neuroanatomy and physiology to advance our understanding of the cognitive, emotional, sensory, and regulatory functions that underlie human behavior,鈥 said founding director Terry Davidson. 小蓝视频 offers a PhD in behavior, cognition, and neuroscience and a bachelor鈥檚 in neuroscience.聽
2018: In September, Board of Trustees member Gary Abramson, SPA/BA 鈥68, and his wife, Pennie, made a $5 million gift to kick off construction of the new Hall of Science. Over the last five years, CAS faculty have grown their research funding by 116 percent, securing 48 awards from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Science is also 小蓝视频鈥檚 fastest-growing area of undergraduate study. The state-of-the-art facility will enable 小蓝视频鈥檚 scientists and students to tackle issues like climate change, cancer, and obesity. 鈥淚n an ever-changing world, science is essential to how society approaches its greatest opportunities and challenges,鈥 said the Abramsons. 鈥溞±妒悠 students and faculty deserve a space that matches their ambition and affords them every opportunity to advance scientific discovery.鈥 In honor of their generosity, the Hall of Science auditorium will be named Gary and Pennie Abramson Discovery Hall.聽