ASSUMPTION COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH NEW YORK’S COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BIOSPHERE 2 CENTER
-- Assumption students gain opportunity to complement their courses with immersive programs at Biosphere 2 Center --
TUCSON, AZ – Assumption College, a Catholic liberal arts and sciences college located in Worcester, MA., is the latest institution to partner with Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center, it was announced today.

Assumption College is part of a growing group of prestigious colleges and universities including Notre Dame, Rice, Pomona, Smith and Barnard that encourage their students to participate in the unique learning opportunities at Columbia’s Arizona campus, while receiving credit at their home institution.
Beginning Fall 2002, Assumption’s more than 2,000 undergraduates will be able to enroll in either a semester-long environmental science or astronomy program at Biosphere 2 Center. Students in Earth Semester spend the 16-week program exploring the unique laboratory of Biosphere 2, the surrounding Sonoran desert, and global issues such as greenhouse warming and land-use change. Universe Semester students immerse themselves in an intensive astronomy and astrophysics program that takes advantage of southern Arizona’s dark skies for observation, utilizing Biosphere 2 Observatory’s 24-inch telescope as well as the larger professional telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson.

The interdisciplinary Earth Semester has traditionally attracted about 60 percent science majors and 40 percent non-science students to its field-based program. While the Universe Semester curriculum is ideal for astronomy and physics majors, Universe students in any field can design their own crossover curriculum to include one or more courses from the Earth Semester. Likewise, adventurous liberal arts or science students in Earth Semester can take observational astronomy, chaos theory, or other Universe Semester courses.
"Assumption College welcomes this partnership with Columbia University," commented Dr. Thomas R. Plough, president, Assumption College. "As an academic community, we’re constantly exploring new and innovative strategic partnerships which both fit with our mission and provide our students opportunities to grow intellectually and enhance their academic portfolios."
"We are pleased to add Assumption College to the Biosphere 2 Center partnership network," said Dr. David Downie, director of educational partnerships, Columbia Earth Institute. "Assumption’s commitment to interdisciplinary education and preparing students to effect positive change, is consistent with our educational mission."

"This partnership offers Assumption students an excellent and exciting alternative to traditional study abroad options," said Dr. Charles Wood, director of education, Biosphere 2 Center. "Students attending a semester program at Biosphere 2 will be immersed studying Earth science systems, astronomy, or engaged in our new research program in a unique classroom environment and setting unlike anything they have experienced," Wood said.
Biosphere 2 Center is Columbia University’s 250-acre western campus nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of Tucson. Biosphere 2 is devoted to deepening the understanding of Earth systems vital to the policies and decisions that will affect Earth’s future. Equipped with a 3.1 acre, glass-enclosed research laboratory, Biosphere 2 Center, in addition to its research agenda, offers academic programs in Earth systems for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as educational experiences for more than 180,000 annual visitors and local school children.
Founded by The Augustinians of the Assumption in 1904, Assumption College attracts students from throughout the Northeastern United States and some 20 countries. The College offers a Catholic liberal arts and science education as well as programs for graduate and continuing education students. Situated on 175-acres of park-like grounds, Assumption is nearing completion of a five-year, $50 million physical plant expansion program, including a new Information Technology Center, a 63,000 square foot science center, dormered art studios and four suite-style residence halls. The College will celebrate its centennial in 2003-’04.

Assumption College students attending a Biosphere 2 semester program will live on campus in newly opened apartments. Classes at Biosphere 2 Center range from Ecological Systems to Human Role in Environmental Change to Observational Astronomy, Galactic Astronomy and Astrobiology. In addition, students undertake a semester-long independent research project, and go on field trips that focus on the region’s geologic, biologic and cultural diversity. In previous years, extended field exercises have included the Grand Canyon, the California desert and the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.
Since Columbia University began managing the Biosphere 2 Center in 1996, more than 1,000 undergraduate students from the U.S. and around the world have completed the semester or summer programs offered.

For more information on Biosphere II, go tto their Website: http//www:bio2.columbia.edu!