History – Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics
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From Foundations to the Future: The Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics story
Early Foundations
Academic Expansion and Realignment
Strengthening Programs and Scientific Recognition
The Merger and Future of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics
Early Foundations (1880s-1940s)
- 1884-85: ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ catalog lists its first chemistry courses: Elementary Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Agricultural Chemistry. These courses laid the groundwork for integrating science into the state's agricultural and industrial development.
- 1897-98: Chemistry becomes an official department at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, with its own faculty leadership, budget and academic programs. This milestone elevated chemistry from a set of courses to a permanent academic unit, ensuring its central role in the university's science and research mission.
- 1944: The graduate program in chemistry begins, expanding opportunities for advanced scientific research and training at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ.
- History through pictures: early foundations.
Academic Expansion and Realignment (1950s-2010)
- 1950s-1960s: Advances in science education nationwide inspire ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ to expand its curriculum and strengthen laboratory facilities, preparing students for careers in industry, government and academia.
- 1973-74: The Ph.D. program in chemistry was suspended in 1973. Chemistry merges with the Agricultural Experiment Station’s station biochemistry program, forging stronger connections between chemical sciences and agricultural research.
- 1980s: Interdisciplinary expertise becomes a priority, with new faculty joining in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry and biochemistry.
- 1989: The chemistry Ph.D. program is revived after 16 years, marking a renewed commitment to advanced research training.
- 1995: The department takes on the name Chemistry and Biochemistry, reflecting its broadened scope in molecular and life sciences.
- 2005: Administrative restructuring moves the department fully into the College of Arts and Sciences, with agricultural-affiliated faculty reassigned to the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences.
- 2010: The Avera Health and Science Center opens alongside a fully renovated Shepard Hall, adding more than 150,000 square feet of modern classrooms, research labs and collaborative spaces. At $51 million, it stands as the largest academic research and education construction project in South Dakota’s history, transforming the department’s capacity for teaching and research.
- History through Pictures: Academic Expansion and Realignment.
Strengthening Programs and Scientific Recognition (2011-2022)
- 2011 – Physics moves from the College of Engineering to the College of Arts and Sciences, creating stronger ties with fundamental sciences.
- 2014 – The biochemistry B.S. program earns American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology accreditation, making all graduating biochemistry majors society certified. The biochemistry Ph.D. program launches, expanding graduate research opportunities and deepening ties with biomedical research partners.
- 2016 – The B.S. in chemistry education is introduced, meeting a statewide need for certified high school chemistry teachers.
- 2016-2020 – Faculty play key roles in the statewide BioSystems Networks/Translational Research (BioSNTR) initiative, securing multimillion-dollar funding for cutting-edge imaging, computation and cellular manipulation research.
- 2018 – The department completes a successful institutional program review, earning recognition for strong growth in extramural funding and effective use of the Avera/Shepard facilities.
- 2018-2022 – External research funding averages nearly $3 million annually, supporting projects in materials science, environmental chemistry, nuclear science and chemical education. In 2018, both chemistry/biochemistry and physics became founding departments in the new College of Natural Sciences.
- History through Pictures: Strengthening Programs and Scientific Recognition.
The Merger and Future of the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics (2023-Present)
- The B.S. in physics – science teaching specialization remains the only nationally accredited physics education track in South Dakota, preparing the next generation of physics educators.
- Faculty in materials science partner with institutions like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Northern Iowa to develop advanced magnetic materials with applications in technology, energy and biomedicine. In nuclear science, collaborations with NASA aim to design space-based neutrino detectors, pushing the boundaries of astrophysical research.
- Outreach remains a signature strength, connecting the department with K-12 students, teachers and the public through hands-on science experiences.
- Fall 2023 – The Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Physics unite to form the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics. This merger creates a dynamic, interdisciplinary hub for research, teaching and outreach, preparing students for careers in a rapidly evolving scientific world.
- History through Pictures: The Merger and Future of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics.
Contact us
Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics
Physical Address
1055 Campanile Ave.
Brookings,
SD
57007
Mailing Address
SAV 247, Box 2202
Brookings,
SD
57007
Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
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