Celebrating with Science

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with science?

Jim Neel, Emeritus Professor of Biology, celebrated his 100th birthday at SDSU this summer. A World War II veteran, Neel was drafted shortly after turning 18 and starting college. After the war ended and Neel was discharged, he returned to college and went on to study fallout from atomic detonations at the Nevada Test Site as part of the Atomic Energy Project.

After later earning his doctorate degree, he taught Biology and Radiation Biology Techniques at SDSU for 30 years, serving as Associate Dean of the College of Sciences for half his time at SDSU. After retiring, he continued serving the SDSU community by voluntarily teaching a course aimed at supporting sciences graduate students applying to doctoral programs.

In addition, this summer, Helen Corley, an alumna of the Hydrogeology master’s program, returned to SDSU with her family, including her husband, David, a College of Engineering alumnus. Accompanied by Earth and Environmental Sciences faculty and staff, Corley met with former professors and toured the department’s facilities and labs, which helped pave the way to her 37-year career at WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc.