September 17, 2001

The new Marine Sciences Building at the University's Avery Point campus in Groton will be dedicated on Wed., Sept. 19. The $24 million structure is part of UConn 2000, the state's $1 billion program to rebuild the University's campuses. Members of the University community are welcome to attend the event.

Following the 11 a.m. ceremony and the cutting of "seaweed", marine sciences students will conduct tours of laboratories and classrooms to show how technology enabled by the new facility is improving research, education and outreach.

Sites during the tour will include:

• Research laboratory - bivalve endoscopy (a method for studying how bivalves feed, which is critical to the health of oysters and other commercially important species);
• Environmental chambers - allow precise control of temperature and light to mimic conditions in Long Island Sound and other bodies of water.
• Teaching laboratory - an exercise with dyed water to demonstrate how water of varying salinities forms layers.
• Sun Center of Excellence in Oceanography - demonstration of high performance computers and their application to a major research project.
• Distance learning classroom - linking Avery Point to the Storrs campus.

Janice Palmer

Dedication Schedule:
10 a.m. - Plaquing ceremony for new Sun Center of Excellence in Oceanography.
11 a.m. - Dedication ceremony - front entrance of the Marine Sciences Building.
11:45 a.m. - Lunch
1 p.m. - Guest tours begin