The Mission
We often speak of the importance of language in conveying information, feeling, and purpose, as well as of unspoken languages such as art. However, life has its own languages at the molecular level composed of DNA and protein sequences and this information determines how cells function. Hiram College understands the increasing importance of molecular information in today’s world and the need for more young scientists who understand, interpret, and use this information to solve new problems and communicate their findings in a way that increases the scientific literacy of our society. The Center for Deciphering Life’s Languages aims to serve that need in a variety of ways.
The Vision
- First-year genomics experience for all entering Hiram College students.
- The Center will propose to other liberal arts colleges a collaboration on a research project done completely by undergraduates and high school students
- Hire biochemistry professor for the 2007-2008 academic year whose teaching and research efforts will mesh with the goals of the Center.
- Bolster the staff in other ways that will support the Center in order to continue to support the biochemistry major, add minors in bioinformatics, computational biology, and mathematical modeling
- Encourage expansion of summer research to other disciplines
- Further improve the College’s science facilities
- Work with the Center for Literature, Medicine, and Biomedical Humanities, and the Center for the Study of Nature and Society to further strengthen all educational opportunities in the life sciences
- Strengthen ties with the Center for Ethics and Values in order to deepen the students understanding of ethical questions that evolve from research
- Enhance the involvement of Hiram alumni with current students studying the sciences
