CSB/SJU Biology Department Newsletter
Volume
5
Number
1
September 7, 2001
Welcome Back! The new academic year is in full swing and I hope that all is going well for everyone. Starting with this issue, the Biology Department plans to once again issue a newsletter at least once per cycle. The newsletter is only available on-line and we will send you an email announcement of when each new issue is posted on the Biology Department Newsletter Website. The email announcements are automatically sent to CSB and SJU students who list Biology or Natural Science as a major or minor. It is also sent to students enrolled in Concepts of Biology. If you would like to be added to the distribution list to receive notice of the newsletter, contact Dr. Saupe.
Our goal for the newsletter is to provide students with information about activities and opportunities on- and off-campus, and to provide information about some of the exciting developments that are occurring in the department. If you have any comments or suggestions about the newsletter please send them to me (Dr. S Saupe). I especially encourage you to submit news, announcements, or other items that would be of interest to our readers. You can send your submissions to me by email, snail mail (Dr. S.Saupe, Biology Department, PENGL 335, fax 363 3202, phone 363-2782, or in person. I look forward to hearing from you and hope that you enjoy the newsletter.
Michael
Johnson
(SJU �01) was accepted to the University of North Dakota Medical School.
Congratulations!
Rachel
Reuter
(CSB �00) was accepted to the University of Minnesota � Duluth Medical
School. Ditto!
Nikki
Hemmesch,
a CSB senior in Natural Science, and her advisor Dr. Larry Davis,
will be presenting a poster at the Geological Society of America meeting
in Boston on the recent slumping along the freeway.
The title of Nikki's poster is "Continued Slumping along I-94
Adjacent to St John's Abbey Lands, Stearns County, Minnesota".
Dr.
Gordon Brown and Dr. Larry Davis will be giving a paper at the Geological
Society of America meeting in Boston entitled "The Lighter Side of
Evolution". The presentation
will focus on using cartoons, such as Far Side and Calvin and Hobbs, for
presenting evolution in the classroom.
Dr. Larry Davis, and colleagues in the U.S. Geological Survey, will be presenting a paper at the Geological Society of America meeting in Boston entitled "U.S. Geological Survey CD-ROM Based Petroleum Assessments for Undergraduate Geology Laboratories".
An
article on the "Geologic Time Scale" by Dr. Larry Davis was
recently published in the Encyclopedia of World Geography published by
Salem Press.
CSB/SJU Great Med School Acceptance
Rate
Dr. David Mitchell, CSB/SJU PreMed Advisor writes that �almost 70% of CSB/SJU
students that applied to medical schools throughout the United States were
successful in their initial attempt at enrollment�.
Congratulations to everyone! This
is outstanding placement.
Pre-Med News
� from Dr. M. Campos, Pre-Med Advisor.
This summer the UM-Twin Cities School of Medicine made
some significant changes in their course requirements for the 2002 and 2003
entering class. The most
significant changes involve the 2003 entering class -- the math prerequisite
becomes calculus (rather than statistics or calculus), and courses in genetics
and statistics become "strongly recommended". The immediate
implementation of these changes for applicants to EC 2003 (mostly our juniors)
may involve substantial restructuring of coursework for some of your advisees.
For detailed information on these changes check the UM-TC
school of medicine web page or the the CSB/SJU
pre-prof health page.
Note that these changes apply only to UM-TC. I have contacted other schools to which most of our students apply -- UM-Duluth, Creighton, MCW, Loyola, SLU - and their past policy on the math prerequisite still holds -- calculus or statistics. This is also true of the majority of med schools in the country. If you have questions, contact Dr. Campos or Dr. Mitchell. You can also find information on course requirements for every school in the country through links on the csb/sju pre-med web page.
Environmental
Studies Program Update
� abstracted from a letter from Dr. Derek Larson
As a result of the formal program review of the ES
program in 1999-2000, CSB/SJU have
now appointed a single Program Director, Dr. Derek Larson, to our growing
program. There are a total of 42 ES
minors registered, about a dozen over our previous peak, which makes the minor
program larger than about 50% of all CSB/SJU majors in raw numbers.
Part of this growth is due to the ES Learning Community, but an equal
number appear to stem from our efforts to recruit first/second year students in
2000-2001. One of the projects our students will be undertaking this
year is the publication of an ES newsletter aimed at alumni and friends of the
program. We'll be developing some
new ENVR courses over the next year or two; first among these are an ES Research
Seminar (ENVR 395) which will replace the growing number of senior ILPs we've
all supervised in the past. A new
Introduction to Environmental Studies course (ENVR 150) is also in the works
with a planned Fall 2002 launch
Sept 12 | CSB/SJU Chemistry Seminar: "Isolation of Biologically Active Compounds from Fungi" - Dr. Kate Graham, CSB/SJU; 4:30 pm; ASC 142. |
Sept 13 | Board/Prairie Tour: St. John's Arboretum Tour |
Sept 24 - 27 | Evolution on TV |
Oct 2 | GIS Demo; Arboretum |
Oct 11 | CSB/SJU Biology Dept. Seminar: Dr. Lisa Peterson (School of Public Health, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis) |
Oct 20 | Glacial Geology Field Trip |
Nov 5 | CSB/SJU Biology Dept. Seminar: Dr. Peter Wyckoff (Department of Biology, University of Minnesota-Morris) |
Nov 15 | CSB/SJU Chemistry Seminar: "New Strategies for the Identification of Viruses" - Dr. Gary Mabbot, UST; 4:30 pm; ASC 142 |
none supplied
Scholarships/Jobs/Internships (top)
Smithsonian
National Museum of Natural History - 2002 Research Training Program.
This program is a ten-week internship open to undergraduates
only, will run from May 25-August 3, 2002, and feature a diverse curriculum plus
research projects in systematic biology, paleobiology, human sciences, and earth
and planetary systems for students seeking a career in these natural history
disciplines. The program includes
natural history research, lectures, discussions, workshops, demonstrations,
behind-the-scene tours, field trips and more.
Deadline for application is February 1, 2002 but there are limited
positions available - so act now! All
information and application materials can be found on the Smithsonian website at
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/.
THE
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION'S Campus Ecology Fellowship Program
This program is a nationally recognized opportunity for undergraduate and
graduate students to pursue their vision
of an ecologically sustainable future. Through tangible projects to green their
campuses and communities, Fellows gain practical experience in the conservation
field and first-hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities inherent in
successful conservation efforts. Fellows also receive a modest grant, project
support and recognition of their accomplishments. Students, faculty, staff
and members of the broader community stand to gain as Campus Ecology Fellows
assist with the research, design, and implementation of projects that help
strike a better balance between people and nature on the campus and beyond.
While not all fellows do research per se, research is an integral part of many
potential fellowship projects. If
interested, you will have to move fast, because the deadline is September 15.
See www.nwf.org/campusecology/fellowships/index.html.
THE
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTMAKERS' ASSOCIATION
This is a consortium of foundations that give grants in the environmental
sciences. Many of them fund
research, from biology and earth sciences to social sciences.
To see the list of funders (some with hot links), visit www.igc.org/ega/members.html.
BREAST
CANCER UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER TRAINING PROGRAM.
The US Army Medical Research and Material Command
supports undergraduate student research opportunities in biology, psychology,
chemistry, and related fields. Applications are accepted from institutions for
three-year grants. For information,
visit http://cdmrp.army.mil/ and look for the Breast Cancer Program Announcement II, Part
1.
Geology
Field Trip
Alan Knaeble from the Minnesota Geological Survey has agreed to
lead a field trip to examine the glacial features of the local area. Alan is a St. John's alum (history) who turned to the dark
side and went back to the U of MN to get a degree in geology.
He is works in the Quaternary geology section at the survey and has done
most of the geological mapping in Stearns Co and the surrounding counties.
It should be a very informative field trip.
Date:
Saturday, 20 October
Time:
8:30 - 4:00(?)
Place:
Meet in the Science Ctr parking lot
Transportation:
School vans
This will be a great opportunity to expand your horizons by examining the underlying reason for all the regional plants and animals! Contact Dr. Larry Davis to reserve a spot on this trip.
Biology
Department Seminar Program
The Biology Department Seminar schedule for Fall semester is
currently being formalized. The following two seminars are confirmed with
titles of presentation to come. The seminars typically meet at 4:00 pm in
NEWSC 140. A meeting (with refreshments) precedes the presentation at 3:30
pm in the Science Museum.
Oct 11 | Dr. Lisa Peterson (School of Public Health, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis) | Title TBA |
Nov 5 | Dr. Peter Wyckoff (Department of Biology, University of Minnesota-Morris) | Title TBA |
Chairs
in the Science Center
The
Dean asks that no chairs be removed from any of the classrooms.
New
Arboretum Director
The St. John�s Arboretum welcomed a new Director this
summer. Mr. Tom Kroll, a DNR
forester, has taken over the position held by the late Father Paul Schweitz.
Tom will be an outstanding addition to our community.
Please make him feel welcome with our traditional Benedictine
hospitality.
GIS
Demo
Tom
Kroll and the Arboretum have arranged a demonstration of ArcView, a leading GIS
package, for all interested parties the morning of Tuesday, October 02, 9:00
AM-12:00 PM in New Science 150. Katie
Fernholz of Community Forestry Resource Center will demonstrate how they use
ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) software in producing maps and data
management for their landowner clients. This
will be an informal presentation. The
purpose is to demonstrate the most common GIS package used in the USA.
Folks may come anytime & stay as long as they have time.
For more information, contact the Arboretum.
Board
Walk/Prairie Tour
-- sponsored by Health at Work
Please join us on a tour of the wetlands, tall grass prairie
and oak savanna with John Geissler as our guide on Thursday September 13th. A
ride will be provided to and from the tour. Meet in front of the Abbey Church at
11:45 - the tour takes approximately an hour. If planning to go, please send an
e-mail to vkrueger as we need to plan on the number of vehicles needed.
Evolution
on TV!
There will be a four-part series on Evolution that will be aired on
public television channels from 8 to 10 pm on September 24-27, 2001.
The series promises to be a magnificent vehicle for public education, as
well as classroom-based instruction at all levels.
To accompany the series, a companion book by Carl Zimmer
("Evolution--The Triumph of an Idea") will be published.
Also, a diversity of multi-media materials have been prepared, including
a teacher's guide, an evolution library (web access to multimedia resources),
videos for students, teaching evolution case studies, an online course for high
school teachers, and online lessons for students.
Please see WBGH's Website
for information about the series and these items.
Writing
Contest - �Kilian at Eighty�
This is a writing contest, with prizes totaling $20,000, to honor Father Kilian
McDonnell, OSB, on his 80th birthday, 55th anniversary of monastic profession,
and 50th anniversary of ordination. The
Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, which Kilian founded and of
which he is president, and the Saint John�s School of Theology/Seminary, where
he taught from 1964 to 1992 and is professor emeritus, invite the �new
generation,� those born on or after January 25, 1959 (the date on which Pope
John XXIII publicly announced his intention to call the Second Vatican Council),
to participate in �Kilian at Eighty.� An
essay in one of three categories-the Holy Spirit, the renewal of theology,
ecumenism-or a poem can be submitted by December 14, 2001.
The three categories are central concerns of Father Kilian�s
scholarship. In recent years
he has begun writing poetry of high quality.
In each of the three essay categories, and in the poetry category, there
will be a first prize of $2,000, two second prizes of $1,000 each, and two third
prizes of $500 each-a total of $20,000 in prizes for 20 winners. Information
about �Kilian at Eighty,� including the form for submitting an essay or
poem, can be found at the Institute�s Web site
and at the Web site of the School of
Theology�Seminary. Queries
may be addressed to Patrick Henry,
executive director of the Institute.
Volunteer/Organizers
Wanted for Prairie Restoration Project
The
City of St. Cloud is interested in establishing native prairie plantings along
the walking path that parallels county road 75.
They have contacted Wild Ones, a local natural landscaping group for
assistance. If you are interested
in helping with this project, contact Dr. Stephen Saupe (ssaupe@csbsju.edu;
x2782).
Web
Sites Worth A Visit
(top)
(have you visited any cool sites lately? Send us your suggestions)
Puzzler
of the Week
(top)
(Do you know any good puzzlers? Please send us your
ideas)
none submitted
Joke
of the Week (top)
(Have you heard any good jokes? Please share them
with us)
The three bears
- thanks to Chauntae Ruppe for forwarding this one.Daddy Bear arrives at the table and sits in his big chair. He looks into his big bowl. It is also empty! "Who's been eating my porridge?" he roars.
Mommy Bear puts her head through the serving hatch from the kitchen and screams, "For gosh sakes, how many times do we have to go through this? I haven't made the porridge yet!"
Frequently Asked Questions (top)
none supplied
Dr. Stephen G. Saupe
Professor & Herbarium Curator
Biology Department
College of St. Benedict/St. John's University
Collegeville, MN 56321
(320) 363-2782; (320) 363-3202 (fax); ssaupe@csbsju.edu
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