Sarah Gilbert / The Collegian
If you are looking for an inspirational place to study, alive with the natural wonders of the world, past and present, you should check out the lobby of the Science II building.
“The Column,â€Â a hollow bronze sculpture depicting a myriad of major themes in biological science was unveiled late January in the Science II building and serves as a striking centerpiece in the quiet study room.
Dr. Richard Haas, professor emeritus at Fresno State, donated the idea to the university, which took his offer and paid to have the sculpture made.
“Something like 40 years of experience in the classroom,â€Â Haas said inspired him to create the sculpture.
Blending his passions
From conception to actualization, it took four years to create. Haas said he started with a 3-foot scale model in his studio.
“I hope science students would look at it different than art students,â€Â Haas said. He hopes that students will look at the sculpture, wonder why he chose certain things, and then go and answer their curiosity with research.
Haas eloquently explained every one of his choices, from the feathered dinosaur to the flying fish. He said, though, that revealing his thought behind each detail would threaten the hopes that he has for each person to connect to the piece.
Haas did say that he carefully selected each individual piece and feels he left nothing out. One side of the column is dedicated to the evolution of flight, another to reproduction and superior body type. Haas said students who paid attention in biology should be able to name many of the images.
Science and sculpture
Haas was a professor of bioscience from 1969 to 1992. His focus was on animal behavior, ichthyology, vertebrate natural history and general biology.
Included in his history with the university are the courses Haas initiated in bio-ethics and human ecology and the supervision he provided for secondary school science teaching-credential candidates.
Along with those accomplishments, Haas was a consultant for the World Health Organization assisting in malaria research in over nine countries.
Haas has been retired for over 16 years and said he enjoys spending his free time working on more sculptures.
Haas also enjoys photography. He welcomes all to his one-man show in September at the Spectrum Gallery in the Tower District.