UMass Magazine Online

Winter 2003

Departments

Around the Pond

Features

All my best friends are here

One giant molecule

I learnt to dream of Sicily

The Landscape Beautiful

Around the Pond

Arts & Science & a major grant

NOT ONLY HAVE THEY pulled down a major government grant, but the UMass polymer center is now making art.

In October, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center was awarded a six-year $12.24 million grant by the National Science Foundation, a 33 percent increase in its federal funding.

Polymers are important in fields ranging from nanotechnology to biomedical research. But recently the center’s director, Thomas Russell (Tom’s Layers, right), and some of the students have also been producing artistic images. It’s part of VISUAL, Ventures in Science Using Art from the Laboratory, the brainchild of administrative assistant Linda Strzegowski. Optical microscopes generate images of polymers that are so colorful and beautiful, it seemed only right to display them. Four of these images printed on canvas are on the walls of the main lecture room.

“It’s a good way to convey some of these complicated projects to the general public,” says Strzegowski, “and the students are excited to see their images framed and mounted.”

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A truly defining moment

...and a remarkable, joyful noise

INAUGURATION: More photos

The Academic Imperative

Inside & Out at SOM

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT: More photos

The bright idea: UMass Amherst and Baystate Medical Center

AMHERST & BAYSTATE: More photos

Arts & Science & a major grant

bridges of umass

BRIDGES: Larger image