Spring CBS
Forum: “Promises and Perils of the Biological Sciences Revolution”
What can we do to ensure that biological knowledge coupled with technology
solves problems instead of creating them? Scott Selleck, professor of
genetics, cell biology and development, will share his thoughts with
the CBS community at the Spring CBS Forum, Wednesday, April 16, from
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Coffman Theatre. His lecture is called “The
Promise and Perils of the Revolution in the Biological Sciences.”
The CBS Forum was created to showcase the work of outstanding researchers
in each department, to identify opportunities for interdisciplinary
research, and to build a sense of community within CBS. Departments
rotate responsibility for presenting lectures. For more information
contact Joline Bundlie, bundl001@umn.edu.
CBS Legislative
Calling Night
CBS needs faculty and staff volunteers for the legislative calling night
on Tuesday, April 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. Volunteers will call alumni and
friends to remind them to contact their legislators and ask them to
support the University during the current budget crisis. CBS will be
calling on the same night as volunteers from the College of Agriculture,
Food, and Environmental Sciences and it would be great to have a better
turn out than them. For more information or to sign up contact, Peggy
Rinard, prinard@cbs.umn.edu,
or 612-624-0774.
CBS Year-End
Picnic
Join the fun! Celebrate the end of the school year at the CBS Year-End
Picnic Friday, May 9, 12 to 2 p.m. on the lawn in front of Snyder Hall
and Gortner Labs. There will be:
- Free food served
by the deans, department heads, and faculty
- Gifts for graduating
seniors
- Music
- Door prizes
Pick up free tickets
by May 2 in CBS department offices, Student Services, or the Dean’s
Office.
Greenhouse
plant sale
The Plant Biology Phytograds and The College of Biological Sciences
Greenhouse will have a plant sale on Wednesday and Thursday, April 2
& 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will be held at the St. Paul
Student Center, room 108. Call Jodi Bjork at 625-4788 if you have questions.
Campaign
Minnesota Celebrations
The University wants to say thank you to the more than 11,000 faculty
and staff members who have made contributions during Campaign Minnesota.
They will be honored with two celebrations, one on Northrop Mall and
one on the St. Paul Campus Mall. Both will be from 12 to 1 p.m. on Tuesday,
April 22. The programs will include free lunch.
John Hall
Memorial Research Award
CBS Faculty and staff are eligible to apply for the John Hall Memorial
Research Award in Evolutionary Plant Biology. Projects should address
questions about the evolution of organisms including plants, algae,
or fungi. For more information visit the plant biology office, or contact
Odette Holter, at oholter@cbs.umn.edu.
Applications are due in the Plant Biology office by April
15.
Cargill
building to be dedicated on May 5
Dedication of the Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics
has been set for Monday, May 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. Claire
Fraser, director of The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) in Washington,
D.C., is the guest speaker. TIGR is considered the leading microbial
genomics research institute in the country. Fraser, who has led efforts
to sequence several microbial genomes, will participate in the ribbon-cutting
ceremony, receive an honorary doctorate from the University, and deliver
a scientific lecture. CBS nominated Fraser for the doctorate, which
is the University's highest honor.
Pawlenty
proposes biotechnology plan
Gov. Tim Pawlenty presented his vision to make Minnesota a world leader
in biotechnology to the Minnesota Biotechnology Industry Organization
(MNBIO) last month. He said every indicator suggests that the biotech
revolution will change our economy as profoundly in this century as
the microprocessor and the desktop computer did in the last century.
He made a number of proposals, including:
- Creating major
partnerships in genomics and biotechnology between the University and
the Mayo Clinic
- Developing a ‘biotechnology
park’ to attract cutting-edge biotechnology companies to Minnesota
- Finding funding
for a translational research facility at the University
- Maintaining funding
for biotechnology related research at the University despite budget
constraints
- Bringing together
leaders from education, research, industry, political, and investment
communities for a Governor’s Bioscience Summit
The Governor’s
Bioscience Summit will be May 12.
Biotechnology
in Minnesota
What does a typical Minnesota biotech company look like? According to
recent report by the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development,
Minnesota biotech firms are usually small. Most employ fewer than 10
people and generate less than $5 million annually. More than two-thirds
of them are located in the Twin Cities, and few have been in business
for more than ten years. About half offer health related products and
services. Finally, almost all of them say financing is their largest
obstacle. Read the Trade Department's report online.
Renewable
Energy and the Environment
There's a growing interest in a University Initiative on Renewable Energy
and the Environment, which is being led by CBS, IT and COAFES. Dean
Elde has testified on behalf of this effort at the capital several times
over the past several weeks and will discuss the proposal again today
for the Senate Commerce and Utilities Committee. The initiative could
qualify for funds utility companies are required to pay to develop alternative
energy.
Executive
Vice President to speak at CBS commencement
Christine Maziar, Executive Vice President and Provost of the University,
will speak at CBS Commencement on Saturday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. in
Northrop Auditorium. Stay tuned to CBS News for more details.
Library
liaison now available to BMBB, GCD, and Microbiology
Kevin Messner is the new U Library liaison to BMBB, GCD, and Microbiology.
Kevin has a Ph.D in Microbiology from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. As liaison to these departments Kevin will:
- Provide consultation
on scientific research and instruction through the U libraries or other
abstract index databases
- Manage the library’s
collections to meet the scientific literature needs of the departments
- Be available for
in classroom research projects
He also has extensive
experience in bioinformatics research, and writing instruction. He is
available to all students and faculty in these departments for help.
Contact him at messn006@umn.edu,
or 612-624-7210.
Bioinformatics
at the U
Did you know the Center for Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics
(CCGB) and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) are both available
to meet your bioinformatics needs? Check out www.compbio.umn.edu
to find out how each of these centers serves the University community,
and links to their Web site.
Spring is
in the air
The Amorphophallus Konjac is now in bloom at the CBS Greenhouses.
The Konjac is a purple, fly-pollinated plant that blooms only once a
year. Despite its beauty, it emits a strong odor, similar to rotting
meat, to attract flies.
Tools for
employees
In a time when many difficult budget decisions are being made that affect
University employees, the University is expanding resources to provide
employee support. This effort incorporates enhanced initiatives that
will provide tools for managing change. The Office of Human Resources
has established the following programs:
- The Employee Career
Enrichment Program includes workshops, individual career coaching, supervisor
training, departmental consultation, and career information. Visit,
www.umn.edu/ohr/ecep.
- The Talent Resource
Bank encourages non-renewed P&A staff to submit a resume that will
be available to all hiring departments at the U.
- The Toolkit for
Managing During Times of Limited Resources details a benefit program
provided to P&A as well as CS/BU employees who receive a non-renewal
of appointment notice.
Top
Rao Fu’s
name was spelled incorrectly as Rao Ku in the last issue of CBS News.
Fu presented her research, “Transcriptional Control of Potassium
Channels in Pulmonary Vasculature,” during the “Impress
the President” student expo last month.
Rex Lovrien,
professor emeritus of biochemistry, passed away from complications related
to heart disease. He earned a B.S. in biochemistry from the University
of Iowa in 1953, and joined the department of Biochemistry a the U in
1965. His research interests were bioseparations, biorecognition, energetics,
protein, and enzymology.
Top
March 27
“Pathways that Couple Cell Growth and Division”
Mike Tyers, University of Toronto
2101 BSBE, 12 noon
Sponsored by GCD. Contact Judith Berman, berma003@umn.edu.
March 28
Second Annual Bioinformatics Symposium: “Building Bridges”
Memorial Hall McNamara Alumni Center, 8 a.m.
For more information visit, http://www.binf.umn.edu/bisymp03/.
April 3
“Cytogenetic and Molecular Analysis of 7q36/12p13 Arrangements”
David Drubin, University of California, Berkeley
2101 BSBE, 12 noon
Sponsored by GCD. Contact Kathleen Conklin, conkl001@umn.edu.
April 4
“Controlling Greenhouse Gases and Feeding the Globe through
Soil Management”
Rattan Lal, Ohio State University
335 Borlaug Hall, 2 p.m.
Sponsored by Plant Biology. Contact Satish Gupta, sgupta@soils.umn.edu.
April 16
Spring CBS Fourm: “The Promise and Perils of the Revolution
in the Biological Sciences”
Scott Selleck, genetics, cell biology, and development
Coffman Theatre, 2 p.m.
Sponsored by the College of Biological Sciences
Contact Joline Bundlie, bundl001@umn.edu.
April 22
CBS Legislative Calling Night
McNamara Alumni Center, 5 to 8 p.m.
To register contact Peggy Rinard, prinard@cbs.umn.edu,
or 612-624-0774
May 5
Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics Dedication
Featuring Claire Fraser of The Institute for Genomics Research
Lobby of the Cargill building, on the Corner of Gortner Ave. and Hendon
Ave. on the St. Paul campus, 2 to 5 p.m.
May 9
CBS Year-End Picnic
Lawn in front of Snyder Hall and Gortner Labs, 12 to 2 p.m.
Pick up free tickets by May 2 in department offices, Student Services,
or the Dean’s office.
May 17
CBS Commencement
Keynote address to be given by U Executive Vice President and Provost
Christine Maziar
Northrop Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
CBS
seminar listings
Top
Next
issue: April 9— Copy deadline: April 4
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