Cassidy During the past few years, research and research training activities have increased markedly in the Biology and Chemistry Departments at Southwest Texas State University. This growth has been hampered by several deficiencies in the laboratory facilities available to faculty and students: inadequate electrical power, limited gas lines, antiquated plumbing, and a lack of appropriate fume hoods and ventilation. The university plans to renovate 8,200 square feet of laboratory space that will provide a suitable environment for research and research training in polymer and organometallic synthesis, environmental and industrial science, molecular biosciences, and a fish genetic stock center. This renovation will enhance the research and research training activity at Southwest Texas State University in several significant ways. Faculty research projects will have appropriate environments for new state-of-the-art instrumentation. Collaborative student-faculty research projects will have adequate and appropriate laboratory space. Specialized functions such as the fish genetic stock center will have dedicated facilities with the necessary environmental quality and controls. New faculty will be attracted to the university owing to the availability of high-quality research facilities, and students will be drawn toward careers in the sciences. ***
