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Peter
Agre's decision
to major in chemistry may have been a family matter. His father, Courtland
Agre, was a distinguished chemist in research at DuPont and 3M as well
as a college professor. He was one of the "founding fathers"
of Augsburg's chemistry department and taught in it for 17 years.
 After
Peter Agre graduated from Augsburg, he went on to earn a medical degree
at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His interest in biomedical
research led him to a medical residency at Case Western University and
a clinical fellowship at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He
returned to Johns Hopkins for a research fellowship in the cell biology
department and has been a faculty member in the School of Medicine since
1984.
Agre searched for answers as to how water moved from the cells within
our tissues. He also wondered why some tissues, such as the linings of
our lungs, were so much more permeable than others.
In 1988 Agre discovered "channels" that allow passage of water
in and out of cells. This major breakthrough resulted in many related
studies in biochemistry, physiology, and genetics. From them, researchers
have gained much greater understanding of inherited and acquired water
balance disorders, such as kidney disease.
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Because
science affects
nearly every aspect of modern life, Augsburg courses for non-science
majors are aimed at building scientific literacy—the knowledge
and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for
personal decision-making, participation in civic and cultural affairs,
and economic productivity.
William Capman, chair of Augsburg's biology department said, "We
want non-majors to become familiar with the science issues facing our
society. The object is to get them to the point where they can make
sense out of a newspaper article about genetic engineering, health issues,
human behavior, or the environment, for example."
 The
College's general education requirements include two science courses
for non-science majors. Offerings include courses specifically designed
for the non-science major, such as the elective Chemistry for Changing
Times.
Non-majors also participate in Augsburg's Science Education for New
Civic Engagement and Responsibility program (SENCER), funded by the
National Science Foundation. Through SENCER, biology and chemistry students
have engaged in hands-on projects, such as analyzing water and invertebrate
samples from area streams and providing the information to a Hennepin
Conservation District water-quality database. In turn, students are
informed as to how the data is used by legislative, neighborhood, and
environmental groups.
Joan Kunz, chemistry professor and chair of the Division of Natural
Sciences and Mathematics, has provided leadership for the SENCER program.
She is enthusiastic about how this project brings together two critical
elements in Augsburg's mission—high quality science education and
an ethic of service to society. "Community environmental needs
are served at the same time that science literacy is fostered in our
student citizens," she said.
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Augsburg
is extending its pledge
to prepare the scientists, health care and mental health professionals
of the future through collaborations with community partners such as
Fairview Health Services, United Hospitals, and Hazelden. These alliances
allow expanded educational opportunities for students as they prepare
for careers as clinical laboratory scientists, nurses, and chemical
dependency counselors.
Among the emerging initiatives are a new clinical laboratory science
major to prepare health professionals in laboratory medicine, in partnership
with Fairview Health Services; an articulated agreement that allows
more seamless connection between Augsburg's and Hazelden's educational
programs; and the Augsburg Academy, a charter school focused on health
careers, in partnership with Fairview Health Services, Luther Seminary,
and other organizations.
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