Chemistry Department

Three Nebraska Wesleyan University students will spend the next year in Japan. 

Felicia Phares, Kate Richerson and Grant Jackman, all of Lincoln, have each been accepted to the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Now in its 31styear, the JET Program promotes a grassroots international exchange between Japan and other nations. Those accepted into the prestigious program teach English in Japanese schools or work in Japanese communities on international exchange activities. 

It took a few weeks to move every item belonging to the biology and chemistry departments from the Olin Hall of Science to the new Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science. 

It took over a year of planning to make it a flawless move. 

Coordinating the move to a brand-new academic building after nearly a half century of classes in Olin Hall required a talented point person who could make this once-in-a-career initiative run flawlessly.

Students were welcomed to a new semester on Monday, January 14 with a fresh blanket of snow and a much anticipated new science building.

Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science is the university’s first new academic building in 36 years. The three-story facility of approximately 80,000 square feet includes classrooms, laboratories, student study spaces, faculty offices and a greenhouse. The $29 million project was paid entirely through gifts from generous alumni, friends, corporations and foundations. 

Morgan Zabel spent her summer contributing to medicine.  

She didn’t cure any diseases. But a summer research experience gives her hope not only for a future career, but for the advances in medicine happening every day. 

The biochemistry and molecular biology student from Omaha took lessons learned in her Nebraska Wesleyan classrooms to the labs of the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she was one of five NWU students accepted into the medical school’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).

A recent Nebraska Wesleyan University graduate has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the nation’s oldest academic honorary.

Carly Wahlmeier, of Grand Island, has been selected to receive a Phi Kappa Phi fellowship. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society. Each year the society selects 51 recipients from hundreds of applicants who receive $5,000 to use toward graduate or professional school. 

Nebraska Wesleyan University broke ground Tuesday, April 4 on a new science center named after a cherished member of the Lincoln community who was known for his service, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

The Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science is the university’s first new academic building in 36 years and will house the biology, chemistry and psychology programs. The facility will be located on 50th Street between St. Paul Ave. and Baldwin Ave. on the west side of campus.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Nebraska Wesleyan University a $649,863 grant that will provide scholarships and academic support to academically-talented science students with financial need.

The grant will fund Nebraska Wesleyan’s STEM Scholars Program, which will provide financial, academic and social support for selected students who pursue majors in biology, chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, mathematics and physics.

A science evangelist whose passion is helping make science fun will deliver Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Fetzer Science Lecture on Wednesday, March 23.

Ainissa Ramirez is the co-author of “Newton’s Football: The Science Behind America’s Game” and the author of “Save Our Science: How to Inspire a New Generation of Scientists.”

Her lecture at Nebraska Wesleyan titled, “Bold Innovators You Should Know,” begins at 7 p.m. in Olin B Lecture Hall, located in the Olin Hall of Science, one block east of 50th Street and St. Paul Ave.

Rodney S. Markin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Development and Chief Technology Officer at the University of Nebraska Medical Center will deliver the annual Fetzer science lecture on Tuesday, April 29.

Board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, Markin’s professional and academic research interests have focused on solid organ transplantation, informatics and clinical laboratory automation, which include robotics, information systems, medical utilization management and outcomes optimization.

Nebraska Wesleyan University student Sean Tomes always knew he wanted to study abroad. But like many science majors, Tomes’ schedule didn’t leave much room for a semester away.

Instead he took it upon himself to find a summer program that would combine his academic interests with the opportunity to travel.

So he turned to the internet and stumbled upon Project Vietnam, a program that would provide him with the opportunity to travel the country and participate in valuable medical volunteer work.