Biology Department Newsletter

Volume 6    Number 2    September 20, 2002

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Features:
Biology Club News	Calendar of Events	Curriculum News	Faculty News	Internships
Jobs	Jokes	Letter from the Editor	Miscellaneous	Student News
Scholarships	Seminars/Symposia	Web Sites	FAQ's	Puzzler

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Letter from the Editor (top)

     At long last the Biology Department newsletter as returned!  Last year I wasn't too good at publishing it but hopefully that will change.  My resolution for the start of this school year is to issue at least one newsletter every mod (and more frequently if possible).  I especially hope that you like the new look of the newsletter.  

     The newsletter mailing announcement was sent to all students enrolled in Concepts of Biology, biology majors and minors, and natural science majors.  If you are in one of these groups you cannot be removed from the mailing list (sorry - just delete the announcement when it arrives in your mailbox).  In addition, the newsletter is also sent to those individuals who at one time or another asked to be placed on our mailing list.  You can remove yourself from this latter list by sending an email note to me.

     I welcome comments and submissions.  Have a great semester and welcome back.

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Student News (top)

Jodi Elfering (CSB '99) is enrolled in MS program in water resources at the University of Minnesota and teaching at North Hennepin Community College.

Nikki Hemmesch (CSB, '01 - Natural Sciences) is a geology graduate student at Boise State University, Boise, ID. She will be presenting a paper this October at the national Geological Society of America meeting in Denver, CO. The title of her paper is North American Occurrences of the Lower Permian Ammonoid Uraloceras.

Karolanne Hoffman (CSB 03) writes that during the summer she spent time working for Dairyland Power Cooperative that provides power to 28 rural cooperatives in the Midwest.  As a part of her work she was involved with banding Peregrine falcons, electrofishing, and water sampling around the coal piles and ash landfills and general water sampling in the river and pond around the plants.  She deserves congratulations because she was a recipient of a Morris Udall Environmental Scholarship. 

Bob Koch (SJU '00) is in a graduate program at the University of Minnesota studying the non-target effects of the multicolored Asian ladybeetle on monarch butterflies developing in agricultural systems.  He has even won a couple awards at meetings of the Ecological Society of America.  

Brian Lorenz (SJU '99) writes that he will begin a graduate program at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette to study of the effects of timber harvest management practices on herpetile populations in bottomland hardwood

Steven McGreevy ('01) just returned stateside from a year-long stint teaching stint in Japan.  He is now taking courses in the UM program in Applied Plant Science. 

Tim Messina (SJU '01) was accepted into medical school

Jackie George Polipnick ('97) was accepted into the Augsburg Physician Assistant Program

Mesa Ulwelling (CSB '01) was accepted to the dental program at the University of Minnesota   

Aggie Wawra (CSB '02) writes that she worked for the National Park Service in Estes Park (CO) during the summer and is now in Portland.

Sarah Young (CSB'01) in enrolled in the Univ. of Minnesota Pharmacy Program

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Faculty News (top)

Larry Davis (Biology/Geology Department) and John Geissler (St. John's Arboretum) put on a "Dinosaur dig" for 3rd graders from Cold Spring last spring.  The kids had a great time learning about paleontology and the event was broadcast on Channel 11 (NBC) from the Twin Cities.

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Curriculum News  (top)

There are a few curricular changes that have been made in the biology department.  These include:

• Biol 235 and Biol 236 will no longer be offered.
  

• We will offer two new upper division courses Human Anatomy and Physiology I Biol 325 (fall semester) and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Biol 326 (spring semester).  Both of these courses will count toward a biology major and are in Group III. See the course descriptions below.
  

• We will no longer offer Biol 324 (General Physiology).  The subject matter covered in this course will now be covered in Biol 325 and Biol 326.
  

• We will continue to offer Biol 323 but with a new title (Animal Physiology). It was formerly called Comparative Physiology. Animal Physiology is scheduled for spring semester 2003.  
  

• We are moving Biol 320 (Comparative Anatomy) from group III to group IV.  If you took the course before Fall 2002, you may now count it as a group IV course if you wish.  Students may continue to count Comparative Anatomy as a group III course since that was its status when you began your biology major program. However, it cannot count as both a group III and group IV course.  

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Calendar of Events (top)

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Biology Club News (top)

The Biology Club held their first meeting last week.  It was a planning meeting to identify planned activities and interests of the group.  Among the activities discussed were the Homecoming Brat Sale (volunteers wanted), day slaughtering buckthorn, and a field trip.  For more information about the biology club, contact one of the officers:

• Greg Dukinfield

• Amanda Fricke

• Anna Norman

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Scholarships/Jobs/Internships (top)

Internships

• The CSB/SJU Internship Office is available to help with internships.  Visit them in their office or on-line.
• Audubon Center of the Northwoods - www.audubon-center.org
• Analytic Lab Internship - contact Braun Intertec at www.brauncorp.com

The External Scholarship Programs Office
     If you want money, a great place to visit is the external scholarship office.  The staff is available to assist you in finding sources of scholarship funding and to answer questions about scholarship who, what, why, and wherefores.  As a part of the service, ESP will send out email notices as scholarship applications come into the office.  Be sure to check out the ESP WebPages to find links to scholarship search sites, descriptions of applications currently available in the ESP office, and loads-o-other valuable and interesting scholarship information.  Feel free to stop by, HAB 103 - CSB, for applications or with questions.

Some Scholarships to Consider:

• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship - for students who plan to study aboard.
• Best Web Buys Scholarship - for graduate or undergraduate students in good standing, who are legal residents of the United States or international students with valid visas.  They must submit an essay, of no more than 500 words on the topic - What book should our political leaders read, and why?
• The John Gyles Education Fund  - is available to full-time students in both Canada and the United States based on academic ability and financial need 
• ShopKo Scholarships - for hard-working college students whose academic records, work history and dedication to community service set them apart.  
• The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship - for students to explore the field of cardiovascular research as a career by providing opportunities to work with an American Heart Association health science researcher at a Minnesota institution during June, July, and August. 
• Helen N. and Harold B. Shapira Heart Scholarship  - to stimulate interest in the study of heart and blood vessel diseases.  
• Fulbright Scholarships -  visit the website
• Target Scholarship - to recognize volunteer work as well as academic achievement, encouraging students to show us true enlightenment goes beyond what can be learned from textbooks.

 DNR Volunteer Activities
     The Minnesota DNR offers a variety of volunteer opportunities.  Check out their website or the publication posted outside PENGL 329.

Web Sites:

• CSB/SJU Financial Aid

• CSB/SJU Student Employment

• SELT

• Science Jobs

• Challenging Careers in the Medical Laboratory

Recent Internship Opportunities
     Here's a list of internship opportunities recently received by the Internship Office and the Career Resource Centers.  Additional information summarizing these opportunities is available on the Internship website pages listed below and also on the New Internship Opportunities  web page.  Full descriptions of these opportunities are available in hard copy at the St. Ben's and St. John's Career Resource Centers.  If you would like a hard copy of these new internships please e-mail the Internship Office.

ENVIRONMENTAL (EV)

• City of Minnetonka - Minnetonka, MN

• Dodge Nature Center - West Saint Paul, MN

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX

• Minnesota DNR Department of Ecological Services - St. Paul, MN

• Stearns County - St. Cloud, MN

HEALTH/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HL)

• Chrysalis – Minneapolis, MN

Pre-Med & Allied Health Activities
     There are a variety of activities that will be of interested to pre-professional students.  Check out the Health Pre-Professional Program Web Site (Click here).  Be sure to check it out.

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Seminars/Symposia/Field Trips (top)

Biology Department Seminars
     The Biology Department will host several seminars this semester (listed in the Calendar).  The seminars all begin at 4:00 pm. and are held in NEWSC 140.  Refreshments and meeting the speaker is held before the seminar at 3:30 PM in NEWSC 150 (Hall Museum)

Plant Study Opportunities
     The graduate programs in Plant Biology, applied plant biology, plant pathology, and soils, are sponsoring a one-day symposium highlighting research opportunities at the UM.  The conference will be held on Saturday October 5 from 9:30 - 3:15.  Dr. Saupe will attend and is happy to provide rides to anyone interested in attending.  We will leave at 8:00 a.m.  If interested, contact Dr. Saupe (x2782 or email).

JT Interim Study - 2003 - Wolf Ecology in N. Minnesota.
     Visit their web site:  www.audubon-center.org

Chemistry Department Seminars
     The Chemistry Department seminar series has been announced for this semester.  Some of the seminars that would be of particular interest to a biologist are listed in the Calendar of Events.  All start at 4:30 pm in ASC142.  Refreshments and meeting the speaker at 4:00.

Wool Mulching Systems
     Chuck Griffith, SJU Senior Natural Science Major, presented a seminar recently about his summer internship experience at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris (MN).  Among his activities was to conduct a research project studying the effectiveness of wool mulch in specialty crops (tomatoes, catnip and St. John'swort).  His work showed that compared to other mulches, the wool held moisture well, minimized soil temperature fluctuations, and resulted in good crop yield.  This is a promising value added product for sheep farmers.

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Miscellaneous  (top)

Arboretum Staff Fight Western Fires
     This past summer Tom Kroll (Arboretum Director) and John Geissler (Asst. Director) spent their vacation fighting fires.  John was part of a crew that fought the Pinyon Ridge fire west of Denver, whereas Tom worked on a fire in Oregon.  For more information visit www.biscuitfire.com.

Tree Climbing
     The MN Society of Arboriculture recently held its statewide tree climbing championship at Saint John's.  It was great fun to watch the various events from aerial rescue to speed climbing.

Biology Department Golf Outing
     In May, four members of the Biology Department (Dr.'s Henry, Lust, Mitchell, Saupe) participated in a golf outing at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker, Minnesota.  Although unseasonable winds persisted through the day, they did not deter play.  The hardy foursome had a successful day.  Memorable moments of the day included Henry sinking long breaking putts, Lust finding the green in regulation with solid iron play, Mitchell hitting Master's-like drives, and  Saupe loosing his pitching wedge. 

Worms are Reeking Havoc!
     Introduced earthworms are causing a signficant amount of habitat destruction throughout Minnesota.  For more information, contact Minnesota Worm Watch.

CUR's Registry of Undergraduate Researchers and Graduate Schools
     This Registry is designed to link undergraduate students who have research experience with graduate schools interested in recruiting such students (please visit their web site for general information about the Registry).  The registry is free of charge.  Interested graduate schools contact can then contact students whose records they are interested in.  If interested, register at http://www.cur.org/ugreg/register.asp.  Once you register, you will receive an email that provides them with a password and instructions on how to complete their records. 

Security Issues
     Recently there have been a number of problems with car break-ins and break-ins into offices on campus.  If you notice any suspicious activity, call Life Safety (2144) immediately.  Remember always to lock your car and office when leaving them unattended.

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Web Sites Worth A Visit  (top)
(have you visited any cool sites lately?  Send us your suggestions)

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Puzzler of the Week (top)
(Do you know any good puzzlers?  Please send us your ideas)

Consider a garden.  Have you ever noticed that once the soil is turned over a new crop of weeds develops quickly?  Why?  

To enter the competition, simply send your answer (anyone can participate!) to Dr. S. Saupe via email  or snail mail (c/o Biology Department, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN 56321), campus mail, or simply slide the entry under my office door, SC335). The winner will be selected randomly from among the correct entries.  The winner will receive an official CSB/SJU Herbarium Magnet. Entries are due October 15.

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Joke of the Week  (top)
(Have you heard any good jokes?  Please share them with us)

Potato Jokes - thanks to Kelly Deutsch for these gems

Q.  Why do potatoes make good detectives?
A.  Because they keep their eyes peeled.

People are like Potatoes!  

Some people never seem motivated to participate, but are content to watch others ... 
They are called "Speck Tators."

Some are always looking to cause problems and really get under your skin ... 
They are called "Aggie Tators."

There are those who are always saying they will, but somehow, they never get around to doing  ... 
We call them "Hezzie Tators."  (from the laughalot-owner on the net)

Some folks spent a lot of time sitting and peering into their garden ...  
They are called "Medi Tators." 

There are those that try to maximize their crop yields while reducing expenses ...
We call them "Compu Tators." (Mike Garofalo)

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Frequently Asked Questions  (top)

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For more information, contact:

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