Through a commitment by Winthrop to invest more in the sciences and the careful hiring of research-oriented teachers, the chemistry department led by Pat Owens now ranks as one of the most vibrant on campus.

After the Sims Science Building underwent a $6.7 million renovation in 2002, students and prospective faculty members took note of the technological advances. The department has grown from six to 11 professors, according to Owens, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Geology.

The department’s hard work paid off in other ways as Winthrop gained American Chemical Society approval for both its chemistry and biochemistry degrees.
 
Owens has structured the department so faculty members work in a decentralized environment that values student learning and research at its core. They operate on a 12-month basis, using the summer for intense faculty and student research. Lately, the chemistry students’ research has involved examining the molecular mechanism of cancer formation, finding ways to effectively synthesize new compounds and developing new instrumentation for trace detection of environmental substances.