A Hall for Science
The Soviet Union鈥檚 successful launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957 didn鈥檛 just shock and embarrass the American political establishment, it led to a frantic game of superpower one-upmanship. Among the positive outcomes of the ensuing 鈥渟pace race鈥� was a renewed national interest in 鈥� and greatly increased funding for 鈥� university-based science and engineering.
At Eastern, the post-Sputnik boom helped make long-considered plans for a new Hall of Sciences a reality. Begun in the fall of 1960 and completed in 1962, the building ensured that 鈥渆very department, including chemistry, biology, geology, physics and natural sciences has the most up-to-date equipment,鈥� as one contemporary account put it. Sixty years later, the Hall of Sciences, now the Science Building, is getting a long-overdue, state-funded makeover. It鈥檚 a timely remodel that will ensure this 鈥淪putnik-era building鈥� (see Page 11) will remain relevant, if not for another 60 years, then at least for a long stretch of what promises to be our own exciting era of discovery. 听
