PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Spring 2013 Volume 11, No. 2
The HMC Bulletin is produced three times per year by the Offi ce of Communications and Marketing
The Evolution Before Our Eyes
T
he fi eld of biology is a study of every aspect of living things, including their origin, evolution, structure, function and growth. Biology also is a study of relationships between living things and their environment. I like to think of Harvey Mudd College as a living thing that can be
viewed through the lens of the biological sciences, the theme of this issue of the HMC Bulletin. Origin. When Bill Purves joined the College in 1977 as the fi rst professor of biology (Page
10), he faced a great many challenges: there was very little space for the fl edgling program, no laboratories and few students. Over the next 11 years, he would overcome many challenges to see not only the founding of the department and the hiring of its fi rst faculty members, but also the addition of biology as a requirement in the HMC curriculum. His was an extraordinary ef- fort that provides a telling example of how the College has evolved to meet changes in technol- ogy and STEM education. Evolution. It is fi tting that on the 35th anniversary of HMC’s Department of Biology and
20th anniversary of the biology major, we take a deeper look at the program. Today’s biolo- gists are using computational tools to provide fresh insights into solving problems (Page 18), engineers are making important contributions to biology (Page 22) and research into insect behavior is yielding new and potentially life-altering information (Page 24). The College’s focus on computational biology has united mathematics and science to provide new ways to address complex problems (Page 7). The study of biology continues to evolve at HMC on pace with the latest developments in the fi eld. Structure, Function. Our evolving academic programs and uniquely talented students
require the College to fi nd ways to meet changing needs. This fall, we look forward to opening the new teaching and learning building, which will provide new classroom spaces to help allevi- ate some of the challenges in offering additional course sections while providing new instruc- tional technology (Page 6). We look forward to hosting a community-wide celebration for the building’s opening this fall and hope you will make plans to join us Saturday, Sept. 28. Growth (of reputation). Our dynamic programs, innovative new spaces and accomplished
faculty and students are bringing unprecedented, positive recognition to HMC. We think—and many of you have agreed—that more people should know about Harvey Mudd College and what it has to offer. That’s why the College community has been engaged in discussions over the past six months about how to update and refocus our communications and marketing efforts. I want to thank the more than 150 members of our community who participated in the focus groups and phone interviews for this project. Relationships. I would be remiss without pausing to refl ect on the loss of a wonderful friend
who died earlier this year: Jean Platt, wife of founding president Joseph Platt (Page 4). She was a remarkable woman who experienced fi rsthand the birth of HMC and helped to shape it into the extraordinary College it is today. Jean and Joe paved the way for me, and I join family, friends and admirers in expressing infi nite gratitude to this remarkable, one-of-a-kind couple.
Maria Klawe President, Harvey Mudd College
2 Har vey Mudd College SPRING 2013
Vice President for College Advancement Dan Macaluso
Assistant Vice President of Communications and Marketing Timothy L. Hussey, APR
Director of Communications, Senior Editor Stephanie L. Graham
Art Director Janice Gilson
Graphic Design Susan Landesmann
Contributing Writers Richard Chapman, Linley Hall ’01, Shari Roan, Tamara Savage ’15, Jean Strauss, Koren Wetmore
Proofreader Kelly Lauer
Contributing Photographers Keenan Gilson, Global Photo, Margaux Hujoel ’16, Ji Su Lee ’15, Shia Levitt, Kevin Mapp, Cheryl Ogden
The Harvey Mudd College Magazine (SSN 0276-0797) is published by Harvey Mudd College, Offi ce of Com- munications, 301 Platt Boulevard, Claremont, CA 91711
www.hmc.edu
Nonprofi t Organization Postage Paid at Claremont, CA 91711
Postmaster: Send address changes to Micki Brose, Harvey Mudd College, Advancement Services, 301 Platt Boulevard, Claremont, CA 91711
Copyright © 2013 Harvey Mudd College. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in the HMC Bulletin are those of the individual authors and subjects and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the College administration, faculty or students. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written consent of the editor.
Find the Bulletin online at
www.hmc.edu/hmcmagazine
The Harvey Mudd College Bulletin staff welcomes your input:
communications@hmc.edu or HMC Bulletin Harvey Mudd College 301 Platt Boulevard Claremont, CA 91711
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