After five months of interior reconstruction, the Holden Observatory will begin hosting astronomy lab courses next week. The dedication ceremony for the Patricia Meyers Druger Learning Center will be held on Mar. 28.

Despite being the second oldest building on campus, the Holden Observatory has undergone a number of adjustments during its lifetime. According to the Syracuse University Archives, in 1991 the building moved from “the south side of the hill west of Hall of Languages” to between the former College of Law building and Crouse College due to the construction of Eggers Hall. The most recent modification to the building focused on restoring the telescope, which proves to remain fully functional.

Marvin Druger, professor of biology and science teaching, thought of the idea that inspired the recent renovations.

“It all started when my wife, Patricia, was ill with stage four terminal lung cancer and I was giving tours of the campus for first year forum classes. Whenever I told students about the observatory, they often asked, ‘Does the telescope work?’” Druger said. “It turned out that a gear was broken in the dome housing the telescope, which is perfectly fine, and the telescope couldn’t be used because the dome couldn’t be rotated.”

Druger then contacted Chris Danek, assistant director of academic facilities, to renovate the building’s interior. Due to the outdated technology used to construct the building, the physics department was tasked with the challenge to custom-make the 19th century gear that would enable the dome to rotate.

In addition to changes to the gear, the main floor was transformed into an interactive classroom space that features two video monitors able to capture images from other telescopes and display other instructional programs. A third video monitor will also be accessible from the lobby.

“The project focused on the main level, which had previously been used as office space, and converting it into a learning space for the physics department and the astronomy lab courses,” said Danek.

Druger said he hopes that the creation of the Patricia Meyers Druger Learning Center, or the “Pat Project” as it is affectionately named, will serve as a tribute to the life that she lived and a tool to excite students about astronomy.

Druger worked closely with Duncan Brown, associate professor of physics, to ensure that the new learning space would meet the needs of astronomy lab courses.

Thomas Vo, a physics graduate student teaching in the observatory this semester, sees the learning center as an opportunity for students to have a stronger connection to astronomy.

“Historically, we’ve taught labs in a physics classroom on computers, but the hope is that being in a remarkably preserved observatory with a working telescope will allow students to appreciate what it takes to do astronomy and inspire them to really dive into the subject,” Vo said.

Regardless of these new additions, Danek believes that the observatory will not be open for public viewings until the viewing gate is fully functional or otherwise approved by the Physics Department.

“I consider it an honor to be able to make the donation. It means a lot to me because she is going to be there for over 100 years. Often times, I tend to get the credit for everything, but this is hers,“ Druger said.

Published on January 15, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Chizobam: cnwagwu@syr.edu