University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

Jn Pursuit of i In the College of Natural Sciences, importance is placed on research. Work is currently being done on several subjects in a wide variety of areas in each department on the Austin campus except the Department of Marine Studies which conducts a majority of its research on the Texas coast ASTRONOMY A black hole is densely compact matter with gravitational force so strong that not even light can escape. This astronomical curiosity is the focus of attention of Dr. John Craig Wheeler, associate professor of astronomy. Wheeler is examining how a star can fall into a black hole and still emit radiation. Since space is frictionless, it is unlikely that the mere falling of the star produces energy. Wheeler ' s theory states that the star is broken into gaseous matter which is stored as a whirling disk around the black hole. This matter, rubbing and colliding with itself, creates energy because of the friction and causes more violent reactions to occur. Energy buildup . . . RESEARCH continues until the matter reaches an unstable state of equilibrium when radiation energy is released in a blinding flash with the remaining matter spiraling down into the black hole. Telescopic observations of black holes have revealed that radiation is emitted, lending support to the theory of a halo existing around the com- pact core. Through his study, using computers and scientific reasoning. Wheeler hopes to " satisfy part of man ' s strong desire to understand the universe and how it works. " BOTANY Dr. Garry T. Cole, associate professor of botany, studies microfungal growth and development using microscopic and biochemical techniques. One such fungus. Candid albicans, is a yeast normally found in the human intestine. However, a chemotherapcutic treatment of antibiotics affect the immunological system, the yeast can move into the bloodstream continued on page 204 \ ( )iu of the most important f.utors in the formation of a university is the establishment of a College of Natural Sciences, since suc-nce is the IUM-. of all knowledge, !X-.m Auline R Schrank said. Despite this, biology was the eighth largest major at the University, dropping from fourth in 19 7 2. Enrollment remained stable compared with an increase in most other colleges. The enrollment of women in the lollege has been on the increase for the first time. Full time faculty members numbered 342, not including teaching assistants and assistant instructors, within the 11 departments of the College of Natural Sciences. The state-appropriated budget for the college for 1978 and 1979 was $12.8 million and was used to pay for faculty and TA salaries, adminis- trative staff salaries, travel expenses, computer rental, maintenance, operation and equipment. In addition, the faculty brought in approxi- mately $11 million through research grants. Research was conducted by a large majority of faculty; courses were closely related to the professors ' particular field of research. In addition, three-fourths of the graduate students engaged in various research pro- jects The extensive research being conducted stressed the theoretical anil purely academic rather than applied aspects of science. During the fall and spring semesters, the old wing of the Welch building was remodeled at an estimated cost of $12 million, and the structure is expected to be completed by 1982. When asked what the biggest problem in the College of Natural Sci- ences was, Dean Schrank replied, " Teaching people of the state what science is all about. " He pointed out that advertisers never use controls which are so fundamental to dealing with science and without which there is no suentitu prcx > t After serving three years as Dean. Schrank retired upon reaching his 65th birthday in August 1980. COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES * Dran Auline R College of Natural Sciences 20)