Physics Dept. Hosts Re-Dedication of Its New Home

September 28, 2011

The Department of Physics will be re-dedicated at a special event on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 3:30 p.m. to christen their new home in Fisher Hall. The ceremony will be held in the second floor east end lounge of the Fisher Hall Annex. All are invited to come and tour the newly remodeled facilities.

“Ensuring that all Duquesne students who engage in laboratory-based courses and scientific research activities do so in state-of-the-art facilities continues as a strategic priority for the Bayer School,” said Dr. David Seybert, dean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. “We have a solemn obligation to provide our emerging next generations of scientific leaders with the highest quality laboratory experiences possible.”

The move to Fisher Hall has already been a welcome change for students in the program, according to Physics Chair Dr. Simonetta Frittelli.

“When we see students enter a room wearing a smile, we know the space is right for them,” Fritelli explained. “Over 400 students taking physics labs this fall are now housed in a safer learning environment that is comfortable and efficiently designed for the individual needs of each class. Instructors now have areas dedicated to lab development and multimedia in each lab setting to facilitate the delivery of ideas in the class. The improvements extend to the hallways as well.”

Physics’ administrative and faculty offices are located on the third floor, in close proximity with the environmental science and forensic science programs. The third floor is easily accessible through the new Annex entrance at the east end of Fisher Hall.

Additionally, the Fisher Hall Annex is dedicated to laboratories and meeting spaces, including the physics tutoring center. They are most easily accessible through the main Forbes entrance or via the elevator.

“Considering the tight constraints that came with the original space in the second floor of Fisher Hall, the final design is surprisingly bright, open and inviting. Having the right environment makes a difference in how we learn, teach and research physics,” Frittelli added.

While most physics courses will be taught in Fisher Hall, large enrollment courses will still be taught in the lecture halls in the Bayer Learning Center.