Pueblo -- The father of computational biology will present the keynote address as part of activities associated with the dedications of the newly renovated Life Sciences and Physics/Math buildings on the Colorado State University-Pueblo campus next Saturday (August 30). The facilities will be open to the public for tours beginning at 10 a.m. Poster sessions by CSU-Pueblo alumni also will be on display at that time.

At 1 p.m. in the Life Science Auditorium, Dr. Michael S. Waterman of the University of Southern California will discuss computational biology. Waterman holds a doctoral degree in Statistics and Probability from Michigan State University. He has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, and was elected to the American Academy of Art and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. He is a founding editor of Journal of Computational Biology, is on the
editorial boards of seven science and math journals, and is author of the text: Introduction to Computational Biology: Maps, Sequences, and Genomes.

The building dedications and ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., to be followed by a reception and the announcement of the newly formed Sallie Watkins Scholarship. The Sallie Watkins scholarship is an endowed scholarship created by physics alumni to honor influential retired physics professor Sallie Watkins. Watkins began her career at SCSC in 1966 and served in many capacities as faculty member and dean until her retirement in 1988. Watkins' teaching philosophy was that every teacher has a sacred trust to support, encourage, and bring to blossom the talents and capabilities of every student.

The $10 million projects began in 1999 and were fully completed in December of 2002. Improvements to the buildings not only bring them up to modern code for safety purposes, but also make the buildings more accessible and user-friendly for students, according to Kristy Proctor, Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. The project included renovations to classrooms, lecture halls, and labs to accommodate new teaching methods including use of technology. New features in the buildings include breakout study rooms for students to gather and study, research labs to support undergraduate and masters level projects, enhanced appeal through incorporation of light, art and color, and enhanced energy efficiency.

Adorning both buildings is the artwork of Pat Musick of Colorado Springs. The Life Sciences building include visual representations of biology as a diverse discipline or a continuum of biological systems. Musick has created visual representations depicting many aspects of biology, from wildlife biology and anatomy to biochemistry.

This celebration of progress is open to all. For additional information on the building dedications, please call 719-549-2340.

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.