Greater than the Sum of its Parts

The merger of the College of Mines & Earth Sciences (CMES) with the College of Science ushers in a new era of science at the University of Utah. With the second phase of this momentous undertaking, it is the commitment of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors that I recognize with gratitude.

None of this could have been possible without Darryl Butt, former dean of CMES and, as of June 1, the new Dean of the Graduate School at the U. Darryl will now be at the helm of over 200 graduate programs serving more than 8,000 students. I thank Darryl for his leadership and for all of his many contributions to CMES.

Already the collaboration is bearing fruit. Just over a year ago, based on the vision and generosity of Clay and Marie Wilkes, we established the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy to address the challenges posed by a changing climate. The Center, led by faculty members William Anderegg and John Lin, has already made fundamental contributions to the Great Salt Lake Strike Team whose science-based policy recommendations were influential in this year’s legislative action to save the lake.

This winter we broke ground on a new project that together with the Crocker Science Center will form the Crocker Science Complex. The Complex completes the vision of Gary and Ann Crocker and will include the renovated Stewart Building, just north of Pioneer Memorial Theater, and a new 100,000 square foot building extending to the west. The new building will be home to two departments spanning the merged college, Physics & Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, and provide a nexus for collaborative and multidisciplinary teaching and research. Virtually every STEM student at the U will take classes in the Crocker Science Complex.

And this is just the beginning! I am truly grateful to be a part of the merged college community, and look forward to working with you in the year ahead. Thank you for your interest and dedication.

Sincerely,

Dean Peter Trapa