If you stop and look around CBS, you can see that we are changing. Many of the changes are very positive. The Molecular and Cellular Biology Building has opened, the Cargill Microbial and Plant Genomics Research Building is moving toward completion and thanks to a $1.7 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, we are planning the Rural Science Teachers Program at Itasca Station. During the last fiscal year, we welcomed 10 new faculty members, and this year's freshman class that is bigger, brighter, and more diverse than ever.

A stagnant economy brings some unpleasant changes, however. I am very concerned about what the upcoming legislative session will mean for the University and for CBS. State support for the University has been shrinking over the past several years, and given the economic outlook, that trend will likely continue this year. Maintaining the same high quality education with fewer resources will prove difficult, but we owe it to our students to make every effort to do so. As the state pays less for their education, they and their parents pay more.

Every member of CBS can contribute to this effort. How? Creativity. Unleash it! Use your creativity to find new and economical solutions to old problems. Encourage others to do so as well.

So, brace yourselves, the economic road ahead maybe a little bumpy. But be assured that the future of biology remains strong, and that we are very well positioned to take advantage of opportunities. We must not lose focus. One of our most promising opportunities is to work with Minnesota biotechnology companies to promote the growth of biotechnology industry in the state. This will contribute to both the economic and environmental health of Minnesota.

Thank you in advance for all of your contributions to the College of Biological Sciences this coming year. I look forward to working with you.

Bob Elde, dean

Welcome, freshmen!
On Tuesday, September 3, 351 new freshmen began their University careers at CBS. This year's freshman class includes 124 men and 227 women, and is very diverse. We will have more information on our students' backgrounds and academic interests in the next issue of CBS News. The University welcomed all freshmen on Wednesday, September 4 at the new student convocation, where Regents Professor David Tilman, EEB, was a speaker. CBS freshman were greeted by faculty, staff, and alumni on Thursday, September 5 at the Freshman Dinner, held in Memorial Hall at the McNamara Alumni center. Speakers included CBS Dean Bob Elde; Robert Jones, Vice President for Campus Life; and Wayne Sigler, Director of Admissions.

Come to Cedar Creek's 60th birthday party September 21
Cedar Creek Natural History Area will celebrate 60 years of making ecology history on Saturday, September 21 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. The day will include a bring-your-own-picnic lunch, tours of Cedar Creek, research update from David Tilman, history display, children's nature adventure, and a demonstration of radio-tracking featuring Goldy Gopher. There will be fun for all ages. Everyone is invited! For more information or to RSVP, contact CBS Alumni Relations: denz0018@umn.edu. To learn more about Cedar Creek visit: www.lter.umn.edu

Create an opportunity for a CBS student
CBS has raised 82 percent of its $6.1 million goal for Campaign Minnesota, which concludes June 20, 2003. Increasing support for annual and endowed scholarships remains an important goal for CBS. You can make a gift to a current fund or establish a new one with cash, securities, property, or by payroll deduction. Or, you can include CBS in your estate plans. Gifts from faculty, staff, alumni, and friends create extraordinary opportunities for students. And private giving is the key to a great university. Contact Janene Connelly at 612-624-7496 or connelly@cbs.umn.edu

Dean Elde to Speak on Biotech Incubators
Bob Elde, CBS Dean, will be a featured speaker at the MNBIO showcase series, "Biotech Incubators" on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:30 a.m. in room 135 AC of the Earle Brown Center on the St. Paul campus. The program will address incubator structure management, resources, and costs to tenants. Harlan Jacobs, president of Genesis Business Centers, Ltd. and Mark Bugher, director of University Research Park at the University of Wisconsin, Madison will join Dean Elde. Jim Adam, president of Blizzard Genomics, will be moderator. To register, contact the MNBIO office at 651-265-7840, or visit www.mnbio.org.

Forum on the Future of U Research
A forum called "Setting the Research Agenda in a Post 9/11 World: The Changing Mission of a Land Grant University," will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Earle Brown Center on Wednesday October,16. Panelists will include Alan Hooper, Larry Wackett, and Claudia Schmidt-Dannert. Watch for further information in the next issue of CBS News.

Great Conversations "The War With Germs"
The Great Conversations series, which pairs leading University faculty with world authorities to explore subjects in today's headlines, will start its second season Tuesday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. with "The War with Germs." The conversation will include Michael Osterholm, director of the University's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, with Judith Miller, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Germs. For tickets or more information, visit: www.cce.umn.edu/conversations.

Dolphin Web cam at Minnesota Zoo
CBS Imaging Center director Mark Sanders helped set up cameras for the birth of the new dolphin at the Minnesota Zoo. You can see the dolphins at http://www.channel4000.com/livecams/mnzoo/dolphincam/

CBS Imaging Center workshop
The CBS Imaging Center will host a workshop for Advances in Microwave Specimen Processing for Biological Samples on October 23-25, 2002. The three-day workshop will give hands-on experience on how microwave processing has evolved into a methodology that greatly reduces processing times without sacrificing quality. This workshop will be open to both industrial and academic participants. For more information contact Mark Sanders (msanders@cbs.umn.edu)

Celebrate Biology Week
Biology Week is September 16-21. The weeklong celebration begins on Monday with the Kick-Off Fair at the MCB Plaza from 12 - 3 p.m. Other activities include a BioBuds program, a reception for transfer students, Health Professions Careers Night, and Career Center Open House.

Career Center open house
You are invited to the Career Center open house on Thursday, September 19, from 2- 4 p.m. Meet and visit with Maggie Kubak, coordinator, and her assistant Ryan Schultz, have a snack and check out the updated and improved student resources and services.

CBS Mentor Program
The CBS Mentor Program is a great partnership between students and alumni. The Career Center asks faculty to encourage students to participate. Application deadline is September 30. For more information, call the Career Center or go to www.alumni.umn.edu/cbsmentorprgmstudappl.

Homecoming 2002
The Second Annual CBS Homecoming Picnic will be held on Friday, October 11. Activities begin at 4 p.m. with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends gathering on the lawn in front of Snyder Hall for fun, food, and prizes. Join the inter-departmental tug-of-war, then reunite for a fabulous picnic dinner. Following dinner, Dean Elde will present the Golden Microscope to the winner of the tug-of-war as well as door prizes. Then CBS will join the rest of the University community at the Pep-fest and bonfire at the St. Paul Student Center. Cost is $5 for alumni, friends, staff and faculty and $2 for students. Register in 123 Snyder, 223 Snyder or by emailing alumni@cbs.umn.edu. For a full calendar of other University events visit www.homecoming.umn.edu

CBS at the State Fair
CBS was well represented at the state fair again this year. The exhibit included DNA extraction, yeast fermentation, and four model organisms. More than 50 volunteers donated more than 144 hours of their time. Thank you to everyone who made the CBS booth a success!

Brian Van Ness, GCD, will be one of the scientific directors of the International Myeoloma Foundation (IMF) effort called Bank on a Cure, which will establish a method to find new treatments for multiple myeloma, while customizing care for current patients.

John Ward, plant biology, received $220,000 from the National Science Foundation for a research program on Arabidopsis.

Ken Jeddeloh has accepted the position of education specialist for the Rural Science Teachers Program at Itasca Station, funded by a $1.7 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Jeddeloh, who has had 32 years of experience in K-12 science education, completed all of his education at the University of Minnesota, earning a bachelor's degree in science, master's degree in zoology, and Ph.D. in science curriculum and instruction. Most recently, he was project director for an NSF teacher enhancement grant in the Minneapolis Public Schools. In his new position, Dr. Jeddeloh will be responsible for coordinating programming. "We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Ken's education and experience for this position," says Jane Phillips, administrator for the HHMI grant.

David Redish, neuroscience, has been selected to receive a 2002 McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award for a project entitled, "Wireless Recording of Neural Ensembles in Awake, Behaving Rats."

Glenn Geisler, neuroscience, received the 2002 Distinguished Teacher Award from the Minnesota Medical Foundation. This award recognizes superior teaching by Medical School faculty based on a vote by first year medical students.

Apostolos Georgopoulos, neuroscience, has been awarded the Santiago Grisolia Chair for 2003. This award recognizes outstanding researchers and scientists in the fields of biomedicine and neuroscience.

Robert Miller, neuroscience, is the co-recipient of the 2002 Bryan Boycott Award. This award celebrates a scientific work of importance related to the neurocircuitry of the retina.

Irvin Leiner, professor emeritus of biochemistry, has been awarded the 2002 Sterling B. Hendricks lectureship. The Hendricks lectureship recognizes senior scientists in industry, university, or government positions who have made important contributions to the chemical science of agriculture.

Andre Amado was the first recipient of the $5000 Itasca Director's Graduate fellowship for study at the Lake Itasca Forestry and Biological Station. Andre comes to CBS from Brazil and studies the effects of solar radiation on the production of dissolved organic carbon and bacterial population in freshwater ecosystems.