Simpson College - Zenith Yearbook (Indianola, IA)

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NATURAL SCIENCES

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Orville F. Moore, B.S., M.S., Ed.D. Professor and Head of the De- partment of Education. Frank A. Beu, A.B., A.M., Ph.D. Profossor of Psychology; Chair- man, Department of Psychology; Director of Student Personnel and Chairman of the Chapel Committee. Ralph W. Helfrich, Jr., B.A., M.A., Ph.D. assistant Professor of History. Donald H. Koontz, M.S. Associate Professor of Sociology; Director, Town and Country Church. Joseph W. Walt, Ph.D. Assistant to the President; As- sociate Professor of History. 21

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The biological sciences (zoology and botany), the physical sciences (chemistry, geology and physics), and mathematics have been grouped administratively to provide a unified approach in teaching these extensions of the trivium and the quadrivium. Also in this administrative group are the two practical sciences, home economics and phys- ical education. Each of these departments offers a full major in order to prepare for professional work in that field. Finally, in addition to the courses of the science depart- ments mentioned above, the history and philosophy of are presented from a supra-depart- mental basis in order to better relate the modern sciences to studies in the humanities. Neither Social studies nor the humanities nor the arts provides a liberal education unless accompanied by some understanding of the tactics and strategy of science. It cannot be denied that the increase in the number of technological inventions serving the average American and the immediate and widespread dissemination of scientific discoveries lead to unfounded value judgments and inaccurate decisions if at least an elementary understanding of science is not available as a frame of reference. It may not be true, as sometimes stated, that The Scientific Method can be used to solve all problems, but students usually do acquire a logical approach in solving prob- lems. And many students end up with a life-long interest — sometimes an expanded hobby — in one of the fields of science as a result of that required science course in college. For others it may be the research that several of the departments engage in that raises the curiosity and entangles the interest. At any rate, a goodly number of the students (who are not scared to death of Science) leave that required science course with a conviction that here is a discipline that is both logical, useful and just plain fascinating. Dr. C. Meints