While the University of New Brunswick is recognised as one of the older
Canadian universities, being founded in 1859, the Department of Biology
is relatively young. In the early history of UNB, a variety of individuals
were appointed as Professor of Natural Science. James Robb served from 1837
until 1861 and was followed by Loring Woart Bailey (1861-1907) and Philip
Cox (1907-1930).
Biology, as a separate department, may have originated in 1930 when Charles
William Argue was appointed Professor and Head. Conflicting stories, yet
to be verified, hold that Professor Argue was initially appointed as Professor
of Natural Science and that the Department was not formed until 1941, with
Dr.Argue as head and Dr.W.S. Hoar as his assistant.
Although a bachelor of science degree had been added to the university's
offerings in 1891, the Faculty of Science, as such, was apparently not formed
until the university was reorganised in 1946, at which time C. W. Argue
was appointed as the first Dean of the faculty.
During the years following World War II, the Biology Department continued
to occupy space on the top floor of the Old Arts Building. With the completion
of Loring Bailey Hall in 1961, the Department moved into new quarters, sharing
the buildingwith the Department of Physics.
As the department grew and became increasingly involved in research during
the years after 1961, the lack of space became severe. The need for research
space was partly met with the opening of the C.W.Argue Research Wing by
Dr. Argue in 1972. While this aided the space problem, continuing growth,
especially in undergraduate teaching, had already created additional problems.
Space occupied by the department's Electron Microscope was lost with the
creation of an autonomous Electron Microscopy Unit. At the same time, improved
animal care procedures required a greater share of building space. Class
sizes continued to grow.
In about 1976 Physics largely moved to the newly completed Integrated University
Complex (IUC), providing space for Biology to expand and easing the pressure,
albeit temporarily. In 1992-3, a substantial expansion of the Electron Microscopy
Unit, to produce a much improved Unit, again acted to reduce the space available
for growth.
The Biology Department has an academic staff of approximately twenty-five
whose research and teaching interests represent a substantial portion of
the diverse disciplines included in modern biology. These interests range
from the molecular level through a broad range of interests in organismic
biology to ecology and evolutionary biology. Approaches are similarly diverse
with a strong emphasis on the development of an understanding of functions
and mechanisms. While there is a significant interest in what most call
the " pure science" aspects of biology, there is also a strong
emphasis in the study of biological principles as they relate to practical
matters in fields as diverse as aquaculture, fisheries and wildlife forestry
and agriculture.
The Biology Department at U.N.B. Fredericton is located in Loring Bailey
Hall, located on Bailey Drive, overlooking downtown Fredericton and the
St. John River. This location places the Department close to its sister
Science Departments, which are located in F.J.Toole Hall (Chemistry), the
Integrated University Complex (Physics & The Dean of Science), Tilley
Hall (Mathematics) and The Forestry & Geology Building (Geology).
The Faculty of Forestry is now located in the New Forestry Building adjacent
to the Forestry & Geology Building. A number of other significant locations
such as the Alumni Memorial Center, Memorial Hall ( and The Art's Center)
, the Science Library and the "Old Art's Builidng" ( the former
"King's College" which now houses many of the university's administrative
offices including the Registrar's Office) are in the immediate vicinity.
The Faculty of Engineering, the University Bookstore, as well as several
residences, are close by.
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Maintained by: casey@unb.ca
Last Update: 03/06/97
This document: http://www.unb.ca/web/Biology/History.html