The Interdisciplinary Laboratory

In the Fall of 1998 Harvey Mudd College was named as one of ten undergraduate colleges to receive from the National Science Foundation a prestigious grant designated as an Award for the Integration of Research and Education. This award recognized the College for its excellence in the past integration of research and education and provided funds to develop a new and exciting educational venture - The Interdisciplinary Laboratory.

The Interdisciplinary Laboratory bridges together laboratory experiences from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and seeks to illustrate commonality of investigative methods and laboratory techniques in these sciences in addition to introducing discipline-specific principles. This laboratory is taught by a team of faculty from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. During the 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002 academic years, one  laboratory section of students undertook a first-year laboratory sequence that included the Interdisciplinary Laboratory. This course will continue during the 2002-2003 academic year.

Generally, first-year students enroll in Chemistry 25 and 26, each a one unit laboratory course meeting in the fall and spring semesters, respectively, and Physics 28, a one unit laboratory course meeting in the spring semester. Those students enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Laboratory, a one unit laboratory in both the fall and spring semesters, substitute this course for Chemistry 25 and Physics 28.

Founding Faculty of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory
Sheldon Wettack, Vice President & Dean of Faculty
Gerald Van Hecke, Chemistry
Richard Haskell, Physics
Kerry Karukstis, Chemistry
Catherine Mc Fadden, Biology
Year 
Teaching Faculty
1999-2000
Richard Haskell (Physics), Kerry Karukstis (Chemistry), Cathy McFadden (Biology), Gerald Van Hecke (Chemistry)
2000-2001
Bob Cave (Chemistry), Tom Donnelly (Physics), Kerry Karukstis (Chemistry), Cathy McFadden (Biology), Gerald Van Hecke (Chemistry)
2001-2002
Steve Adolph (Biology), Richard Haskell (Physics), Kerry Karukstis (Chemistry), Cathy McFadden (Biology), Gerald Van Hecke (Chemistry)
2002-2003
Steve Adolph (Biology), Adam Johnson (Chemistry), Liz Orwin (Engineering); 
Spring faculty to be announced

Last modified on September 1, 2002.