“More than half of incoming Harvard freshman declare an interest in science, but less than half go on to graduate with a degree in science,” said Robert A. Lue, co-chair of the Life Sciences Education Committee, one of the subcommittees of the ongoing Harvard College Curricular Review. “We are losing potential students who don’t see excitement early on.”

As a result, next year will see the introduction of Life Sciences 1a and 1b.

“These life science courses are designed to be highly integrated, introductory courses to biology that will allow students to decide what subtopic of biology they want to go into,” said Lue.

Melton is also the father of two children, both of whom have been diagnosed with juvenile, or Type I diabetes.

He hopes to use the stem cell lines he has created to study this disease and eventually provide a cure.

“It’s a long process. There are steps forward, and sometimes there’s a step or two backward,” Melton said after the stem cell lines were created. “[My children] are pleased that [the research]’s progressing. But it’s not going to change their life now.”

­—Staff writer Risheng Xu can be reached at xu4@fas.harvard.edu.