On Campus (May 30, 1986)

              On Campus
FOR THE UC SANTA CRUZ COMMUNITY
May 30, 1986
A teacher
deserving of
the honor
Eugene Switkes, professor of
chemistry, was named winner of the eighth annual
Distinguished Teaching Award at a
reception at University House May
16. The annual award is given by
the Alumni Association to a faculty
member in recognition of contributions made to the excellence of
undergraduate education.
Making the presentations were
John Dizikes, winner of last year's
award, and Stevenson College
alumnus Doug Kaplan (class of
'74), who chaired the all-alumni
selection committee. Alumni
Association President Rob Franks
(Crown '75) presented Switkes with
a $500 cash award.
A theoretical chemist, Switkes
came to UCSC in 1971. His
research is divided into two major
projects: theoretical chemistry and
information processing in visual
perception. In 1983 he was given
the Excellence in Teaching Award
by the Northern California Association of Phi Beta Kappa.
Students laud Switkes's talents
as a professor, citing his clear and
concise lectures and the rapport
and mutual respect he shares with
them. According to the alumni
selection committee, Switkes, like
previous recipients of the award, is
"enthusiastic, committed, inspir-
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On Campus is published by the
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faculty, staff, and students of UC
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Deadline:
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For the issue of:
June 13
[Photograph] Professor of Biology Charles Daniel, center, points at a model of Natural
Sciences III. With him are other members of the Nat Sci III Building Committee: (l-r) chemist David Kliger, biologist Lynda Goff, chemist Anthony Fink,
and biologists Robert Ludwig, Jerry Feldman, and Harry Noller. Not shown is
biologist Barry Bowman.
Funding approved
for Nat Sci III
The state legislature broke
precedent with past budget-
making decisions earlier
this month when it put its final
stamp of approval on funding for
construction of Natural Sciences
III, a $22.7 million project at UCSC
that features a building environment specifically designed to foster
multi-disciplinary science instruction and research.
Once occupied, Natural Sciences
III will bring together faculty
researchers in biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, releasing needed space in UCSC's Natural
Sciences II and Applied Sciences
buildings for programs in astronomy, physics, marine sciences, and
earth sciences.
"This is the first time in the
history of the state that the
legislature has approved a science
facility with interactive space," says
Stephen M. Reed, director of community and legislative relations.
"Our local legislators. Senator
Henry Mello (D-17th District) and
Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-29th
District), were instrumental in obtaining the building's swift and enthusiastic approval in the assembly
and the senate."
At $22.7 million, the structure is
also the largest state capital expenditure for a single project in the
history of the twenty-year-old UCSC
campus.
"This building is a prototype,"
says Professor of Biology Charles
Daniel. Daniel chairs the Natural
Sciences III Building Committee,
which is responsible for seeing that
the building meets the needs of
users.
"Most important, of course, it is
designed to provide laboratory
facilities suitable for the most advanced research in molecular
biology and biochemistry. In addition, it is the first state-funded
science facility to incorporate
features of design that encourage
creativity and productivity through
increased communication. It is an
innovative building, not stamped to
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