When it became clear that classes in the Fall 2020 semester would need to be held in spaces that would allow for more social distancing, Associate Professor David Matthiesen decided to convert White 201, a former storage space, into a lab space for his lab course, EMSE 320: Materials Laboratory II.

"It was clear to me that the COVID-19 social distancing requirements were going to require much more space for teaching our undergraduate laboratory courses,” said Matthiesen.  “I had originally thought to convert some excess office space for small groups of laboratory students to work in - sort of like overflow spaces. However, the social distancing requirements made using office space impractical. What was needed was a LARGE space. Then I remembered White 201.”

Matthiesen said that the students in EMSE 320 “appreciate the openness of the large space while still being able to enjoy group laboratory work.”  In Spring 2021, two lab courses will use White 201, which will also be used as the department’s lab space.

“Teaching a hands-on undergraduate laboratory during the COVID pandemic has presented some interesting challenges and opportunities to try doing things in a different manner,” said Matthiesen, noting that some students are in White 201 and some are in the department’s main lab space, White 328.  Matthiesen sets up a zoom call for every class session so he can communicate with the students in both rooms, as well as the students who are taking the class remotely.  Each group of students (the students in White 201, the students in White 328 and the students taking the class remotely) is in a different breakout room, and throughout the class period, Matthiesen moves between the breakout rooms, allowing him to maintain constant communication with all students.

Before teaching in White 201 began, all faculty were informed that any equipment that they wanted to keep needed to be removed by a certain date.  After faculty removed their equipment, remaining storage was removed by movers.  Laboratory benches were then purchased and assembled.

White 201 had traditionally been used as a storage space, but a now defunct company had rented it in the past.  That company added more electrical outlets and improved the lighting while renting the room, which ended up being beneficial now that it is a class space.