Gov. Kay Ivey was on hand for the ribbon cutting of the historic E.O. Wilson Science Research Center at the Alabama School of Math and Science on June 14.
The 32,000-square-foot facility, the first of its kind in the state, is named after Mobile native Dr. Edward O. Wilson, known as the “father of biodiversity.” It is designed to support advanced STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) studies and the ASMS Research Fellows Program, in which students are paired with a faculty mentor to work on a college-level research project.
“This is indeed a special place, the crown jewel of STEM public education in Alabama and in the Southeast,” Ivey said. “It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come because back when I was a young Mobile banker, this campus was home to one of the largest houses of worship in the state. Today, it’s the grandest house of high-tech learning for Alabama high school students.”
Ivey thanked Ann Bedsole, who founded the school, along with the late Rep. Steve McMillian for making ASMS a reality.
“They sowed seeds that gave rise to life-changing futures for 3,000 Alabama young people,” Ivey said. “The Alabama School of Math and Science stands out as an essential part of school choice as well as an important part of workforce development and talent retention. I was proud to secure funding for the Wilson Science Research Center and I’m excited about the contributions we made in advancing science skills of the students of the Alabama School of Math and Science.”
State Rep. Alan Baker, an ASMS school board designee, added: “ASMS alumni will be knowledgeable experts in their fields and the foremost leaders in them also. This building is a transformative investment for our state.”
The science research center provides research rooms, state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, upgraded classrooms, innovative technology and collaboration spaces. The state gave the $15 million project $6 million in seed money and new-market tax credits.
“This is a boon for our students and for Alabama,” ASMS President Dr. John Hoyle said. “We were in a tiny building and we made the most of it. Our teachers really pushed hard for a new building and they wanted room to do research with our students. We also want to attract people from outside the school, like the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the University of South Alabama and universities throughout the state.
“The students are excited. I don’t know of many high school students who stop what they’re doing during the summertime when they’re not in school and come to a ribbon-cutting ceremony.”
ASMS rising senior Yunseo Ha is enthusiastic about the new offerings.
“I’m especially excited about the research facilities, as well as bio and chemical research rooms,” Ha said. “I feel like that space will help students to conduct their own research. It will be a way to help them to grow in their specific interests.”
Ha, who plans to apply to colleges that are especially strong in electrical engineering, said she hopes the E.O. Wilson Center will help further her goals.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to learn the things that I need to build the tools for other scientists,” she said. “I think this purpose of research is to do good for the community and getting new knowledge for discoveries and humanities. We can leverage that knowledge to make new innovations and ultimately contribute back to the communities.”
This story originally appeared in Call News.
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