It’s been a busy weekend. First there was the dedication for the new Townes Science Center at Furman on Friday, then there was a birthday party for my mother’s 80th birthday on Saturday.
The Townes Science Center is named for Charles Hard Townes, Nobel Prize winner for his pioneering work on maser and laser technology. Programs for the ceremony as well as banners hung around the site featured Townes’ hand-written formula that led to the invention of the laser. The new center consists of a remodeled Plyler Science Building and two additional wings for even more space. It houses the departments of chemistry, physics, biology, and Earth sciences.
There was a dedication ceremony with several speakers, including President Shi, Charles and Francis Townes, and our good friend Brian Geoss. After the ceremonies, attendees were treated to a tour of the new facility. I loved the new Timmons Planetarium, and it was nice to see everything so clean and nice after two years of construction. I was even able to say hello to the Townes, and to meet Richard Riley, former governor and Secretary of Education under Clinton. Below are a few shots from the event:
It was great being there for the dedication, but it really messed up our Halloween. I feel like the holiday slipped right past us this year. We didn’t even get to see any Trick-or-Treaters.
Saturday we had a party for my mom’s 80th birthday, which was last week. My entire family gathered at the Gray Court house for a pre-Thanksgiving turkey dinner. As is the habit with my family, we gathered for singing, then Frisbee and football out in the yard. It was a great day for a great party.