21st Century Science

Every major issue facing our world today requires science as part of the solution. Not long ago, biologists, chemists, physicists and mathematicians holed up in dedicated classrooms and labs, conducting research and solving problems independent of their peers in other fields. Psychologists talked about behavior and biologists tried to understand what nerve cells looked like.

Today, neuroscience — a field now poised for remarkable rates of achievement in clinical depression, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease — dictates that biology and psychology be inexorably intertwined. St. Olaf mirrors this real-world model by teaming students and faculty members from various departments for coursework, research and other learning opportunities.

With its interactive teaching spaces and shared research laboratories that promote cross-disciplinary dialog, Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences will support the college’s long-held priorities and guiding principles: interdisciplinary work; investigative learning; interaction among faculty and students; innovative education methods; and strong integration of both the liberal arts and the natural world.