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New Rochelle, NY, January 8, 2002 - Iona College has received a new grant of $10,000 from The Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation for the Science Department. The department will use $5,000 from this grant to purchase an UV-Visible Spectrometer to be used in the departments of Biology and Chemistry which, linked with the Physics department, comprise College flagship programs.

This fast-scanning, high-resolution spectrometer will enhance science students' ability to obtain actual data that explains and validates theoretical concepts. Faculty members are also engaged in developing curricula materials that utilize spectroscopic measurements.

Currently, the UV-VIS spectrometer is used in the Chemistry program for the analysis of metal complexes and pka determinations (General Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis), for partial structural characterizations and analysis of acid/base properties (Organic Chemistry) and to supply data for the study of quantum mechanical concepts (Physical Chemistry). Additionally, the spectrometer will be used in Iona's core curriculum science program Science and Technological Literacy (STL) to obtain the visible spectra of vegetable extracts. Experiments are being developed to use the new spectrometer for the quantification of nucleic acid concentrations and enzymatic reaction products in Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, for the analysis of photosynthetic pigments in General Biology and Microbial Ecology and for the estimation of cell concentrations in Microbiology.

For questions or more information please contact:
Meghan Finn
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
tel: 914 633-2005 fax: 914 637-2711

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