A New Hub for Science and Tech at William & Mary

William & Mary has just opened a shiny new building for science and tech students. It's called the Integrated Science Center 4, and it's part of a bigger plan to boost research and learning. The building is a big deal because it's the first new school in 50 years! The new building is home to computer science, data science, and applied science departments. It's built where an old hall used to be, near the library. The construction added 124, 000 square feet of new space and renovated 10, 000 square feet to connect with the existing science complex. Eric Bradley, who leads the applied science program, has been working on this project since 2016. He says the new building will make it easier for students and staff to work together and do better research. The building has 35 labs, classrooms, study areas, and even a makerspace with tools for welding, 3D printing, and more.Students and teachers are excited about the new space. Randy Ready, who works in communications, saw the excitement on students' faces when they first entered the building. Margaret Saha, a professor in applied science, can't wait to start research with her students. She thinks it's important for students to get involved in science early on. Geoffrey Zahn, a professor who studies microbes, is looking forward to using the new wet labs for his fungi research. He says the new space is essential for his work. The new building is a response to the growing interest in tech and science fields. Over the last decade, the number of computer science majors at William & Mary has more than doubled. Enrollment in physics has also grown, and the data science program has seen a huge increase in students since it started five years ago.