Revamped floor of Science Hall brings change

By: Javohir Aminov, News Editor

Canisius University renovated the basement of Science Hall into the John W. Rowe ‘66, HON ‘02, MD and Valerie Rowe, PhD, Life Sciences Collaboratory, in order to further expand its support for students who are on the health sciences track.

The Life Sciences Collaboratory consists of a 17,000–square–foot space that houses 19 research labs; the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Kinesiology. In addition to new departments, the Collaboratory also consists of neurobiology, ecosystem ecology, evolutionary genetics rooms and more in order to focus on student interests and successfully acclimate them to a new environment.

This floor for interdisciplinary science is to advance students’ educations and academics through the means of new equipment and spaces that they can utilize for their academics. With this new area, students can better connect with faculty and staff by working on research projects and their studies.

A Canisius student in the biomedical sciences department believes that opening a floor that caters for the science prone majors than the university did before will benefit them drastically. “I’m actually glad the Collaboratory came to be. Everything is on one floor, and it’s just more convenient for me,” the student stated.

Another student, who has a neuroscience minor, expressed that they hope that by opening this floor, it will bring new opportunities for them, so that they can “utilize the information” for their future career.

The Life Sciences Collaboratory was named after donors, John (Jack) W. Rowe, getting his bachelor degree of biology from Canisius in 1966 and his masters degree from University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1970. The other donor, Valerie A. Rowe, graduated from Fordham University, getting her doctorate degree, and joined the Fordham University's Graduate School of Education to become a clinical associate professor from 1999 to 2009. 

Previously, both Jack and Valerie Rowe had funded Canisius University in 2022, when they donated $1 million to further support Science Hall, as they did back in 2007 when they donated $2 million.

Canisius University strives to give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to do what's best for them, allowing them to be in an environment that prospers a scholarly mindset and intellectualism. Seen through the various changes across the campus, the university also has support systems like Jack and Valerie Rowe to fund their changes for the academic community. More changes are arriving to campus in the near future that'll adhere to Canisius students.