SCIENTIA a Publication for College of Science and Health Alumni
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SCIENTIA A publication for College of Science and Health alumni Assistant Professor Bala Chaudhary (right) spoke to the UN about her research on soil samples such as the ones she is collecting on McGowan South’s green roof. More on page 3. Spring 2019 IN THIS ISSUE 4-5| Hands-on Physics 6| Finding Awe 10| Diverse Voices From the Dean | SCIENTIA One would think that because I’ve been at In December, we at the college conducted organizations as interns or allow them to DePaul since 2000, I would know everything a two-day strategic-planning retreat where shadow you. Sign up to be a mentor in our there is to know about the College of we discussed what was important to us Alumni Sharing Knowledge program (bit. Science and Health (CSH). Not in the least. as a college, thinking about our strengths, ly/DePaulUASK), or donate to support the These last few months serving as the interim opportunities and aspirations and how we college and its multiple endeavors, including dean have resulted in the steepest learning would measure success in the coming years. scholarships, the Dean’s Undergraduate curve I’ve had to climb in years. I am The retreat resulted in five strategic priorities: Summer Fellowships and individual thoroughly enjoying meeting alumni, as well strengthening faculty and staff diversity; departments or programs at give.depaul. as faculty, staff and students, throughout enhancing student inclusivity and retention; edu/scientia. Although you may no longer our college. It’s been wonderful learning growing opportunities for student and faculty be on campus, you are still members of the about all of the incredible educational research; increasing support for programs College of Science and Health, and we’d programs, research projects, student services in health; and expanding and strengthening love to stay connected! and community involvement taking place. I graduate programs. It was an inspiring am so proud of all that we do. I invite you to retreat that only increased my admiration for learn about the amazing accomplishments the faculty and staff of our college and their featured in this issue; they are only the tip dedication to our mission (bit.ly/CSHMission). Dorothy Kozlowski, PhD of the iceberg. It was an excellent example of the words of Interim Dean St. Vincent de Paul: “By union and counsel I spent my first few months as interim dean we can achieve anything.” thinking about the future of our college. This summer, DePaul’s Board of Trustees I invite you to share in our union and CORRECTION The name of Dean’s Summer approved the university’s strategic plan, contribute your counsel. Reconnect with Research Fellow Raisa Munshi was Grounded in Mission: Engaging Students, faculty and staff and share how they misspelled in the fall 2018 issue of Scientia, Transforming Communities: The Plan for have helped you achieve. Come back to and incorrect copy appeared under the DePaul 2024. You can find it in its entirety campus and check out our ever-improving heading for the new neuroscience degree. here: bit.ly/DePaulUStrategicPlan2024. facilities. Welcome our students into your We regret the errors. 2 | Living Our Mission | SCIENTIA THE VATICAN, THE UN AND THE SCIENTIST When Bala Chaudhary, assistant professor of environmental science and studies, presented her research on plant-fungal interactions as indicators of soil health in Rome last October, her attentive audience included members of the Vatican’s environmental team. They were there to monitor worldwide progress toward “Laudato Sí,” Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical urging better care of the planet. “‘Laudato Sí’ has been called the most important environmental writing in history,” says Chaudhary, who spoke at the Second Symposium on Global Sustainability. The event, sponsored by the Institute for Process Systems Engineering & Sustainability at Pazmany Peter Catholic University in Budapest, Hungary, focused on how accurately current models can predict humanity’s resource use. Chaudhary’s research has direct implications for soil health. She and her students study the ecology of mycorrhizas, Assistant Professor Bala Chaudhary (right) and her student researchers extract DNA from plant samples to study urban mycorrhizas. symbiotic relationships between fungi and (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief) plant roots. Environmental changes and agricultural practices can shift the fungal Chaudhary connected with other scientists and among the Hopi in Arizona, work relationship from mutualistic to parasitic, and policymakers at the symposium. that caught the attention of several UN damaging plant health. Because nearly all “It was really great for me to be able staff members. “They work a lot with plants form this relationship, Chaudhary’s to share my research on soil ecological agricultural tradition and practices in work has implications for environmental systems with representatives from UNFAO developing nations, so they wanted to hear planning and research worldwide. [Food and Agriculture Organization of more about it,” she says. “I think I’ll be the United Nations] because they are speaking with them again on these topics.” “We rely on soil resources for food responsible for collating, synthesizing production and ecosystem maintenance She says it was a high point of her career and sharing best practices and soil work and stability. That’s why [symposium to represent DePaul at a global symposium throughout the world,” she says. attendees] wanted to know how well we with strong Catholic connections. “It’s not are able to estimate the services that we Chaudhary also studies traditional every day that a scientist gets an audience get out of soils,” she says. agricultural techniques in South America with representatives from the Vatican.” | 3 Physics Studio | SCIENTIA ‘There’s something really magical about this setup’ Susan Fischer didn’t invent the studio teaching model for physics, but she knows a good idea when she sees one. In 2014, she piloted the approach when she taught a class of just 20 students, less than half the typical class size. Instead of lecturing, Fischer had students work in small groups, exploring hands-on activities and solving problems. “Those 20 students were the most tight- knit group of students I’ve ever had in a class. They really were a cohort,” recalls Fischer, an associate professor of physics. She was impressed with how well they learned concepts and how they talked about her class with other students. “The word on the street was that it was a really good way to learn.” The studio approach contrasts starkly with the more common lecture format, 4 | Physics Studio | SCIENTIA Student The studio model enables Associate Professor Susan Fischer Excitement (left) to talk with all of her students individually every week. Propels Neuroscience “Research shows that the optimum space Major has people a little bit on top of each In just three years, CSH’s new bachelor’s degree in neuroscience has exploded from an initial other. You want collaboration. You don’t 17 students to more than 150. Students asked want everybody to feel comfortable and for a degree in the new interdisciplinary field, and DePaul’s faculty were well-credentialed to isolated, you want them to work together.” respond. – Susan Fischer “Psychology, biology and philosophy are the founding fathers of neuroscience,” says Dorothy Kozlowski, interim dean and creator of in which faculty speak to dozens if not this setup. … Every week you’ve had a the program. “You can see the biology of the hundreds of students at a time, while real discussion with every student.” brain, but you need psychology and philosophy to provide a framework for asking questions teaching assistants provide student about behavior and the mind.” support outside of the lecture hall. Under The studio model emphasizes building that model, Fischer jokes that she would students’ reasoning skills. “The focus The program is co-directed by Eric Norstrom, get sleepy 60 minutes into a lecture—and is on understanding concepts rather an associate professor of biology, and Sandra she would be the one giving it. than making measurements to confirm Virtue, a professor of psychology. “We drew on some value,” she says. “We play around DePaul’s expertise in computing and philosophy “There’s research that says people learn with stuff and make predictions and as well as the college’s strengths in fields such better when they’re actively engaged,” understand why things happen.” as health sciences and psychology,” Norstrom notes Fischer, who is leading the says. Reflecting the university’s mission, CSH requires students to take an ethics course such conversion of physics instruction to the Understanding the “why” instead as neuroethics, which often isn’t offered at studio approach at CSH. The first step of merely the “how” helps students other universities. was to remodel several rooms in Byrne retain concepts longer, Fischer adds. Hall and equip them with round tables to Since she started using the studio DePaul’s distinctive program also provides facilitate small-group work. model, “there’s been a shift in the undergraduates with extensive access to grade distribution toward higher faculty. Students gain research experience Under the studio format, students scores; you don’t get as many people through partnerships with institutions such are divided into teams of three and who are really struggling,” she says. as Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine use workbooks, laptop simulations, and Science, Norstrom says. “One of our whiteboards and experiments to solve A growing number of DePaul physics goals going forward is to establish more problems. Fischer may explain concepts or faculty are adopting the format, and neuroscience-specific research and internship opportunities. That’s an area where our alumni lead a discussion for a few minutes and faculty members from other departments can really help us.” then spend the rest of the 90-minute class also are interested.