Annual Report Text, 2002-2003

During the 2002-03 year Dr. Seymour continued as Department Chair and will serve in this capacity during the process of building and renovating the science center. As Chair during this past year one of the main efforts was to address the many different building questions and concerns, as well as to work closely with the move coordinators to ensure that the transfer of equipment into the new building would take place in an orderly manner. Through the outstanding efforts of Tod Gugino and Lori Hertel the move into the new building was accomplished with exceptional efficiency, such that the Chair had only to stay out of the way of the student workers during the several weeks of the move itself.

While the new building received a lot of attention throughout the year, teaching classes and working with students was still the major activity. In the fall semester Dr. Seymour taught the General Chemistry lecture and worked with student Brian Raver, who used the new ICP to begin a temporal study of trace metals in the stream that passes through the area of the athletic fields. The intent of this project is to take samples throughout the year in order to determine if any changes in water quality are observed with such events as large rainstorms or the runoff from the melting of snow. In the spring Dr. Seymour again taught the lecture and lab for the GEMS course Chemistry of the Environment. Other academic activities included attending an NSF sponsored meeting on Instructional Change in Chemistry, participation in a panel presentation on the integration of technology and library resources, and helping draft a new proposal for submission to the Howard Hughes Foundation.

The summer of 2003 had several pleasant diversions, including the 1st annual Science Center golf outing, a visit to Cornell to pick-up equipment for the inorganic lab, and a 5-day backpacking trip to Canada. After about 15 years of participation in some aspect of Boy Scouts, Dr. Seymour will be stepping down as Scoutmaster as his son Joe achieved the rank of Eagle this past year.