Wiess School of Natural Sciences: Challenges and Opportunities

Dan Carson, Dean

May 12, 2009

Carson Background

BA – University of Pennsylvania

Ph.D – Temple University School of Medicine

Post-doctoral fellow – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Asst – Full Professor – MD Anderson Cancer Center

Chair – Department of Biological Sciences,University of Delaware (Human Health Initiative, programs withGraham Cancer Center, TJU, AI duPont Childrens Hospital)

Active research program in reproductive and cancerbiology

What are the Wiess School challenges?

Provide key core courses (Math, Biology, Chemistry) for a variety of majors

Maintain research functions of 6 departments and 4 institutes

Retain outstanding faculty members

Juggle budget demands

Balance need to fulfill School core missions and provide community outreach functions with essential role of School in interdisciplinary activities

What are the Wiess School opportunities?

New courses and curricula – Energy, Science Policy, Human Biology, joint programs with TMC partners

Enhance research activity through collaboration and partnerships – Rice, TMC, other area partners

Recruitment of outstanding new faculty members

Resource redeployment

Refinement of our unique role in Houston and the region

How do we get there? Step 1. Listen and Learn

1. Meet the faculty members in the school

2. Meet and develop rapport with key administratorsand faculty members from other Rice Schools

3. Meet with and understand current goals and challenges facing other Houston partners (TMC, corporate and government)

4. Be alert, flexible and adaptable – Rice’s size advantage

What initiatives are emerging?

Energy – Integration of campus efforts

NASA – JSC, LPI

TMC – BCM and others