Building a research university History of Arizona State University

discovery hall, built in 1948, served first home arizona state college s budding science programs.

national science foundation grant applications arizona state college in 1950s , 1960s focused on teacher training programs or “summer institutes” in various science disciplines. however, there several faculty served university pioneers in attracting federal grants scientific research, in fields of biology, water management, meteoritics , solid state science.

in mid-1940s dr. herbert stahnke received research support arizona state legislature through 2 appropriations bills research projects relating scorpions, snakes , other venomous animals. work led establishment of poisonous animals research laboratory in 1945, produced anti-venom venomous species native southwest region. stahnke’s zeal honored college in period since 1 of handful of faculty writing research grants @ time, , received support national science foundation , national institutes of health. provocative research led number of television appearances , lecture tour of europe in 1961. in 1970s stahnke’s laboratory threatened elimination when university administrators questioned quality of anti-venom , role of public universities in providing service, lab remained in operation until 1988.

h. h. nininger lay scientist , collector of meteorites became internationally recognized expert on subject. in late-1950s expressed interest in association asu support research. while nsf proposal nininger’s meteoritics field research failed, established relationship george boyd (the university’s first director of research) resulted in grant of $240,000 national science foundation purchase of nininger meteorite collection, largest meteorite collection hosted university , considered among top 5 in world. given nininger’s world-class stature expert in meteoritics, , general re-examination of science education in america in response soviet launch of sputnik satellite, asu’s acquisition of collection in 1960 caught attention of nsf , nasa.

soon afterward dr. carleton moore appointed serve first director of asu’s center meteorite studies, exists day. dr. moore acquired thirty-five research grants in materials science , geology nasa, nsf , usgs 1963-1987. moore selected evaluate moon dust , moon rocks acquired nasa’s apollo missions in 1970s, , research particularly well-publicized. work resulted in large number of public speaking opportunities in arizona, , set stage externally funded research in planetary geology , astrophysics subsequent asu faculty.

university scientific research required laboratories, , founding dean lee p. thompson of college of engineering established collaborations several industrial firms general electric, motorola , airesearch enabled purchase of expensive , specialized equipment. labs built support research in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, , turbine engine development. results of research facilitated development of marketable technologies arizona businesses.

in 1960 arrival of asu president g. homer durham university of utah marked beginning of attempts actively recruit research science faculty. appointments of well-credentialed faculty such carleton moore, charles m. woolf, troy péwé , leroy eyring confirmed asu’s ability attract top notch researchers. these faculty members recognized potential of asu , willing build infrastructure attracted many talented research faculty , resulted in award of hundreds of science phd s.

meanwhile, president durham led efforts expand asu’s curriculum establishing several new colleges (the college of fine arts, college of law, college of nursing, , school of social work) , through reorganizing became college of liberal arts , sciences , college of engineering , applied sciences.