All-College Meeting
The spring All-College Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20, from
noon to 1 p.m. in room 239 Gortner. All faculty and staff are encouraged
to attend.
Mark your
calendars for CBS Community Day Sept. 5
All faculty and staff are invited to CBS Community Day on Sept. 5 in
the Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics. Community Day
will begin with lunch, followed by Dean Elde's "State of the College"
address. The afternoon will consist of tours and workshops throughout
various CBS research facilities. More information will follow shortly.
CBS Commencement
175 of the 273 CBS seniors who received B.S. degrees this academic year
will cross the stage at Northrop auditorium to get their degrees on
Saturday, May 17. A reception will be held in front of Northrop for
graduates, family, and friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; the ceremony begins
at 7:30 p.m. Chris Maziar, Executive Vice President and Provost is commencement
speaker. Alumnus Pearl Bergad (M.S. in Botany) will receive the Outstanding
Achievement Award from the University for her volunteer service to Chinese
Americans in Minneapolis and for her use of music to improve understanding
among people of different cultures. Faculty members Rob Brooker, GCD,
and Claudia Neuhauser, EEB, will be recognized for outstanding contributions
to undergraduate education.
More than
700 attend CBS Year-End Picnic
Despite
the gloomy weather, CBS students, faculty, and staff turned out in record
numbers for the annual CBS picnic. Bob Elde, Judd Sheridan, Robin Wright,
Dave Bernlohr, Brian Van Ness, Bob Sterner, Dave Biesboer, and Kate
VandenBosch grilled 760 burgers, and more than 70 graduating seniors
showed up for the class photo. Dean Elde would like to thank the nearly
60 people who volunteered to work at the picnic.
Governor
Pawlenty speaks at Cargill Building opening
Nearly 500 people attended the opening of the Cargill Building Microbial
and Plant Genomics on Monday, May 5. Speakers included Governor Tim
Pawlenty, University President Robert Bruininks, Cargill CEO Warren
Staley, Claire Fraser, director of The Institute for Genomics Research
During the ceremony, as well as Ron Phillips, director of the Center
for Microbial and Plant Genomics, and deans Bob Elde and Chuck Muscoplat.
Staley announced a $1 million gift to the University that will fund
the Cargill Chair in Systems Biology of Human Metabolism in the Department
of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics. Later that afternoon,
more than 130 people attended Claire Fraser’s lecture, “Healing
to Evolution: Harnessing the Genome,” and saw her receive an honorary
doctor of science from the University. The opening was covered by WCCO,
Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Twin Cities Business Journal, the Scientist,
and AgriNews.
Governor's
Biosciences Summit
Dean Elde moderated a panel on Minnesota’s Biosciences Strengths
at the Governors Biosciences Summit on Monday, May 12. The panel featured
Stephen Oesterle, M.D., a senior VP at Medtronic, Karl Rabago, J.D.,
from Cargill-Dow, and Gregg Vandesteeg, Ph.D., executive director of
3M Research and Development. Other sessions included Bioscience Markets
and Minnesota by Heath Lukatch, director of Piper Jaffray Ventures in
San Francisco, The Growing role of the University and the Mayo Clinic
in Minnesota’s Bioscience Industry, featuring Frank Cerra, Sr.
VP for Health Sciences, and Hugh Smith, chair of the Mayo Clinics Board
of Governors. The event focused on how to leverage Minnesota’s
unique strengths in medical devices, agribusiness, basic research, and
health care to create a niche for the state in the booming global biosciences
market. At the end of the day, Governor Pawlenty announced plans to
form a Biosciences Advisory Council to guide the effort.
Packer elected
to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Craig Packer, professor of ecology, evolution, and behavior, has been
elected to 2003 class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The class also includes Kofi Annan, Bill Gates, Walter Cronkite, three
Nobel Prize winners, and four Pulitzer Prize winners. A member of the
university faculty since 1983, Packer is known for his diverse studies
of African mammals. Working with baboons, he became one of the first
scientists to show that animals have built-in mechanisms to avoid inbreeding.
From his observations of animal cooperation, especially among primates
and carnivores, he found that it is possible to predict when animals
will work together to hunt.
CBS volunteers
call in record numbers
Phones of CBS alumni and friends rang off the hooks the night of Tuesday,
April 22, as a record number of faculty, staff, and student volunteers
made calls to enlist support for the U and to thank people for their
gifts to CBS. At UMAA offices at the McNamara Center in Minneapolis,16
people showed up to call CBS alumni and ask them to urge their legislators
to minimize cuts to the U's budget. CBS had more volunteers than any
other college that participated in one of several UMAA calling nights.
Volunteers were John Anderson, Janene Connelly, Ed Cushing, Bob Elde,
Sharon Jansa, CBS Alumni Relations, Jill Johnston, Maggie Kubak, Claudia Neuhauser,
Catherine Pham, Justin Piehowski, Peggy Rinard, Cynthia Weinig, Jason
West, Wojtek Kraszkiewicz, and Robin Wright.
Meanwhile, in the
Dean's Office in Snyder Hall in St. Paul, 22 students contacted approximately
700 donors to thank them for their gifts to the College. Many of the
students were CBS scholarship winners, and each of them could add something
personal about how private support has helped make their college experience
better. The students were, Esther Kao, Michelle Gleason, Jessica Dreis,
Aaron Potretzke, Jennie-Beth Swanson, Kristine Hartmark, Kayleen Fabini,
Tara Gottsacker, Kristin Seitz, Matthew Stone, Tara Dowling, Rao Fu,
Twinkle Jennifer Gravelle, Sharolyn Kawakami, Zeina Dajani, Phil Jensen,
Shruthi Ravimohan, David Atkinson, Rania Habib, and Kristin Berg.
Campaign
Minnesota is winding down
With the end of the school year, we are reminded that the end of Campaign
Minnesota, June 30, is quickly approaching. Many CBS staff members have
contributed gifts to a variety of CBS programs and departments during
this campaign. Included among those generous staff members are Jon Ross,
associate director at the Itasca Biological Station and Rick Peifer,
education specialist in the General Biology Program. Jon’s contributions
have focused on student support through the CBS Annual Giving Scholarship
Fund. Ricks most recent contribution was an in-kind gift of art to be
displayed in the new General Biology office area. Each gift received,
regardless of size or method, is greatly appreciated. Join Jon and Rick,
contact Janene Connelly (612-624-7496, connelly@cbs.umn.edu)
in the CBS Deans Office. Or if you prefer, make your contribution online
by going to http://www.foundation.umn.edu/frameset_5.html.
BIO
wins two awards
BIO, the College of Biological Sciences magazine, received
a Maroon Award from the University of Minnesota and a Merit Award from
Minnesota Government Communicators this month. Both awards were for
all around excellence in editing, design, writing and photography as
well as demonstrated effectiveness in achieving communications goals
and prudent use of resources. Editor is Peggy Rinard; designer is Shawn
Welch. Photographers are Tim Rummelhoff and Richard Anderson. Writers
are Deane Morrison, Jennifer Amie, Mary Hoff, Justin Piehowski, and
CBS Alumni Relations. Advisers are Janene Connelly, Robert Elde, Judd Sheridan,
Robin Wright, John Anderson, David Bernlohr, Robert Sterner, Kate VandenBosch,
and Brian Van Ness. BIO is printed by UM Printing Services.
Volunteers
tend Henrietta’s garden
The Henrietta Miller Garden in front of Snyder Hall and Gortner Labs
is ready to bloom again thanks Jodi Bjork of CBS Greenhouses and several
volunteers, who planted flowers, spread compost, weeded and mulched
the garden on May 1. Miller was a BMBB administrator for more than 40
years before retiring in 1983. She visits the garden every summer to
admire the results of volunteers' efforts. Volunteers included Juli
Pelletier, Paul Germscheid, Sandra Mackey, Lori Nicol, and Jody Bjork.
St. Paul
Saints Game
Join the CBS community at the St. Paul Saints game on June 27 when the
Saints play the Sioux Falls Canaries. Tailgating starts at 5 p.m. in
the Municipal Stadium parking lot and the game begins at 7 p.m. For
$8.00 you will get food and beverages in the CBS tailgating space as
well as your game ticket. Family and friends are welcome. Call Emily
at 612-624-4770 or email denz0018@umn.edu
to reserve your tickets.
Top
Michael O’Connor,
professor of genetics, cell biology, and development, was promoted to
full investigator by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He will receive
funding for the next seven years. O’Connor studies the function
of several Drosophila genes to learn how interacting cells differentiate
to form spatial patterns.
Sue Gibson,
associate professor of plant biology, received a $330,000 grant from
the Department of Energy to study basic plant development and metabolism.
Stephen
Ekker, associate professor of genetics, cell biology, and development,
received a $356,477 grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse
for his project Insertional Mutagenesis in Zebrafish by SB Transpons.
Claudia Neuhauser, professor of ecology, evolution, and behavior,
is the recipient of the 2003 Dagley-Kirkwood Award for Undergraduate
Education. She was selected for teaching excellence and national leadership
in educational innovation, particularly in the area of mathematical
biology.
Sue Wick,
professor of plant biology and director of the Plant Genomics Institute,
will become the new associate head of plant biology beginning fall semester.
She will replace Pete Snustad, who will remain the director of undergraduate
studies.
Karen Oberhauser,
asssistant professor of ecologoy, evolution, and behavior, received
$44,946 from Minnesota’s “Improving Teacher Quality”
program for “Monarch’s and More: Insect Ecology for Upper
Elementary and Middle School Teachers.”
Jeannette
Martinez, graduate student in ecology, evolution, and behavior,
received a Graduate School Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant for
her research of population genetics and habitat specificity of dragonfly
larvae in fragmented landscapes. Martinez has also received the Rothman
Award and the Elmer Birney Fellowship.
CBS undergraduates
walked away with two of the seven awards presented at the 17th annual
Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium last month. Amy Kullas,
a genetics, cell biology, and development, and microbiology major, won
an award for her talk, “A New Member of the RIM101 Pathway Links
pH Sensing to Endocytosis/Vacuolar Functions.” Timothy
Nice, a genetics, cell biology, and development major, won
an award for his talk, “Testing the Role of Beta-Catenin in Thymic
Positive Selection.” More than 60 students participated in the
symposium, which was sponsored by the Minnesota Academy of Science.
Muir Eaton,
graduate student of ecology, evolution, and behavior, received an NSF
Dissertation Improvement Grant to study traditional assessments about
monochromatic vision in birds.
Jacqueline
Youtsos, biology major, received the spring 2003 Student Leader
of the Semester award from the Biology Colloquium Program for showing
excellent leadership skills throughout the school year.
Erika Wedel,
coordinator of biology colloquium, received the Presidents Student Leadership
and Service Award. The award recognizes the efforts of outstanding student
leaders.
Brian Barber,
Ian Gilby and Tanya Smutka, all graduate
students in ecology, evolution, and behavior, will receive CBS Outstanding
TA awards at commencement this Saturday.
Top
May 17
CBS Commencement
Keynote address by U Executive Vice President and Provost Christine
Maziar
Northrop Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
June 27
CBS Community Event: St. Paul Saints game
Municipal Stadium, St. Paul
Tailgating begins at 5 p.m., game at 7 p.m.
Contact CBS Alumni Relations, denz0018@umn.edu,
or 624-4470.
CBS
seminar listings
