Champlin Foundations awards RIC $375K

THE CHAMPLIN Foundations awarded Rhode Island College $375,000 to renovate a biology lab and nearby preparatory rooms in the Fogarty Life Science Building. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE
THE CHAMPLIN Foundations awarded Rhode Island College $375,000 to renovate a biology lab and nearby preparatory rooms in the Fogarty Life Science Building. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

PROVIDENCE – The Champlin Foundations awarded Rhode Island College $375,000 to renovate a biology lab and nearby preparatory rooms in the Fogarty Life Science Building.
The introductory biology laboratory has not been modernized since its construction in 1975. The lab requires upgraded plumbing and electrical systems, new laboratory casework and specialized equipment, among other improvements.
“Biology and other science majors at Rhode Island College deserve to begin their career studies in a state-of-the-art laboratory,” said RIC President Nancy Carriuolo.
The college’s decision to renovate the laboratory is related to increased student interest in the biological sciences. Since 2008, the number of biology majors at RIC has grown 35 percent, mirroring national trends in life science education, according to information from the college.
RIC offers an undergraduate degree in biology, a certificate of graduate studies in modern biological sciences and a graduate degree in biology. The college also offers an undergraduate degree in chemistry, with a concentration in biological chemistry.
Over the past five years, the Champlin Foundations have funded a number of projects on the RIC campus, including renovations to microbiology and ecology labs, improvements to the science auditorium and computer information systems lab, and construction of a new biochemistry lab.
“The awards that Rhode Island College has received from the Champlin Foundations have helped transform the college’s STEM laboratories and classrooms for the 21st century,” Carriuolo said.
The renovated biology lab will also play a role in the education of those RIC students pursuing other health science and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs at RIC.

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