COLLEGE OF SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS

ASTRONOMY TERRACE
a new addition to the Leach Science Center
ASTRONOMY TERRACE YOUR GIFT WILL ALLOW
COSAM TO
a new addition to the Leach Science Center

$1 million increase annual

enrollment in
Currently, the astronomy course in the College of Sciences and
astronomy courses to

600
Mathematics Department of Physics accommodates an average of 175
students each year through its astronomy laboratory based in Allison
Laboratory, which is comprised of eight, eight-inch reflecting telescopes.
Telescopes are stored there until needed for each evenings class, at
which time they are moved to and positioned on the sidewalk outside
the building, then, after class, returned to storage. Plans to raze Allison STUDENTS
Laboratory to make room for the new Academic Classrooms and
Laboratory Complex will require the college to relocate the astronomy
laboratory, as well as the department, to the Leach Science Center.

THIS IS ADVANCEMENT.
To make the Leach Science Center suitable to house both the provide students at least

16
departments faculty and its astronomy course, the college proposes a
30,000-square-foot expansion, which will allow for increased enrollment
in this popular course and other classes to be taught there as well. The
expansion, part of COSAMs continued efforts to enhance its facilities,
will provide students and faculty with modern, cutting-edge spaces
where they can learn and conduct research. It will allow the department TELESCOPES
to accommodate more students interested in astronomy to enroll in the for high-quality
course a goal currently hampered by the Leach Science Centers dated observations
resources and lacking instructional space.

A new astronomical observation terrace atop this addition will enhance

the learning experience of students interested in this popular area of
science. Furthermore, it will be designed to help the college meet the
changing learning styles of todays students while incorporating emerging
technologies. reach at least

7,500
K-12 STUDENTS
AND
EDUCATORS
through year-round,
on-campus programs
offered by COSAMs
Office of Outreach
 THIS IS INNOVATION.
The proposed astronomy terrace will house at least 16 telescopes
permanently mounted on concrete piers. Because each will have
Your generous support the ability to be linked to an in-house computer lab for both
remote-controlled and data-acquisition purposes, this expansion
will propel our college will create additional possibilities for spectroscopic observations.
forward through enhanced As they do currently, students will work in small groups during
astronomical observation sessions, and a retractable roof will
academic, research, protect the telescopes from the elements when they are not in use.
and outreach initiatives Combining these features will reduce class set-up time significantly,
which in turn increases student observation time. This will decrease
while instilling in current the amount of staff, time and resources required to recalibrate
and future students a the telescopes due to their constant relocation. Furthermore, the
retractable roof will allow the department to schedule more sessions,
greater appreciation as inclement weather would no longer be an issue. Locating the
astronomy terrace on top of the Leach Science Center also reduces
for the sciences. A total considerably the deleterious effects of stray light while increasing the
philanthropic investment visible fraction of the night sky.

of $1 million is needed
to realize our vision of
enhancing the Leach
Science Center.
Members of the COSAM Office of Development
can discuss specific ways your gift can further this
project while providing the college opportunities
to recognize your generosity through the naming
of equipment, portions of the addition (such as a
classroom or terrace), or the entire addition.
THIS IS REAL IMPACT.
The addition of a modern instructional facility will allow the college
to accommodate as many as 600 students per year an increase of
nearly 250 percent. Expanding enrollment in this vital and popular
area of science will maximize its use of space and increase the total
credit hours generated through this course. The facility also will
provide value-added benefits to many of the COSAM Office of
Outreachs year-round programs, which cultivate curiosity in sciences
and mathematics among thousands of the communitys K-12
students and educators, and expose future generations of Auburn
students to all COSAM has to offer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

COSAM Office of Development

315 Roosevelt Concourse, Auburn, Alabama 36849
(334) 844-2931 | cosam.development@auburn.edu
www.auburn.edu/cosam

BECAUSE.AUBURN.EDU/COSAM