ScienceWorks

About the Program

ScienceWorks: Entrepreneurial Studies in the Natural Sciences is a unique offering at Carthage. The program was founded in 1994 after Don Hedberg, '50, a chemist, inventor and successful entrepreneur, challenged Carthage to create a program that would show budding entrepreneurs with science backgrounds how to succeed in business.

Mr. Hedberg backed his challenge with a $1 million gift to endow a professorship that would attract an executive scientist with entrepreneurial experience to the College. Carthage tapped Doug Arion, an industrial physicist from the defense industry, to establish the program.

Today, ScienceWorks teaches students of all majors the business, entrepreneurial and professional skills necessary to advance in their careers.

"Bright ideas are a dime a dozen," said Prof. Arion, the Hedberg Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies in the Natural Sciences, and director of the ScienceWorks program. "What we're teaching in ScienceWorks are the tools necessary to grow a bright idea into a successful business."

Complements study in all fields

The ScienceWorks program complements study in all fields, providing students with critical business skills that will help them stand out as superior professionals when they enter the job market. Courses integrate:

  • written and oral communication
  • graphical presentation
  • grant writing
  • business finance and accounting
  • management
  • marketing
  • legal issues and regulation
  • intellectual property
  • business ethics

ScienceWorks participants obtain internships with regional, national and international companies; receive grants to work on new product lines; get exclusive licenses to new technologies; attend lectures and national meetings; and meet world business leaders.

Business Plan Development

The capstone of the ScienceWorks program is the development of a business plan. Students work with College faculty, outside organizations and industry mentors to develop product or business concepts, and then create complete and detailed business plans.

These projects are far reaching in their topics and format. Students might write a start-up business plan, or undertake a small business research project. They may choose to develop a product and seek venture capital financing, or research an existing product or service and propose a plan for improving its profitability.

Prof. Arion notes that these plans are significant accomplishments. "When you look at a ScienceWorks business plan, you're looking at everything needed to start a business or secure financing. The production of the plan is the process that certifies what the students have learned."

Students clear the program's final hurdle by presenting their business plans to ScienceWorks Advisory Board and a public audience.

Hedberg is pleased with what he sees.

"Since natural science students at Carthage already enjoy the benefits of a liberal arts education, the business savvy they gain from the ScienceWorks program crowns an exceptional education. Their entrepreneurial training, global perspective and ‘real world’ pragmatism will benefit all of us."

Academic Resources

Prospective Students

"This class has been one of my favorites, and I was always excited to go to it. You managed to emphasize the points on how things really work, rather than focusing on the theory of how they should work. Most importantly, the biggest skill learned was how to critically think. ... I have made sure to recommend this class to all my friends and hopefully they will take it."

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"I forgot to give you the good news. I got the job as a Java developer. In my interview, we spent the first hour or so talking about the ESNS program, then only talked about technical skills for about 30 minutes. I greatly appreciate what you and the program have done for me."

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"In my current position, I often deal with many entrepreneurs and business plans, which led me to remember my time at Carthage in the ESNS program. ... When I graduated from Carthage, I never could have imagined that I would be an attorney. I use the information I learned in ESNS on nearly a daily basis."