AUGUST 15, 2002 VOLUME 14, NO. 11

LSSURP '02

For the 13th summer, students from across the country participated in the Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) at the University of Minnesota. This year, 72 students engaged in intensive laboratory or field research experiences under the tutelage of U of M life sciences faculty, including 10 faculty mentors from the College of Biological Sciences. Objectives of the program are to increase the number of undergraduates, particularly women and students of color, who earn graduate or professional degrees in the life sciences. The program also aims to increase diversity of graduate students at the University. "This was one of the best summers ever," said Evelyn Juliussen, LSSURP program coordinator. "The students really made it happen."

CBS Primate Center Web Site Featured in Science

Science will feature the newly revamped web site for the Jane Goodall Institute Center for Primate Studies, headed by Anne Pusey, ecology, evolution, and behavior, in its August 23 issue. The interactive site, www.discoverchimpanzees.org, was developed with help from the Science Museum of Minnesota in conjunction with the production of "Wild Chimpanzees," an IMAX film about Goodall's research that opens on Oct. 17. The museum produced the film and funded the Web site redesign. The site features photos, video clips, and biographies of chimpanzees studied over the past 40 years by Jane Goodall and colleagues in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. It also includes information and video clips of chimp behavior, downloadable activities for use by science teachers, and a virtual tour of Gombe.

CBS Community Day is August 28
It's not too late to register for CBS Community Day. The program, which begins at 8:00 a.m., includes a continental breakfast, a choice between two morning workshops "Technology" and "The One Biology: Evolutionary Lessons from Molecules to Ecosystems." A luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. in Bandana Square's North Room, followed by Dean Elde's annual State of the College speech. All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.

State Fair Volunteers Needed For Labor Day weekend
Would you like a free T-shirt and free admission to the State Fair in exchange for talking to fairgoers about the College of Biological Sciences? Volunteers are needed to answer questions about CBS and to encourage participation in hands-on activities. Shifts are only three hours long. Volunteers are urgently needed for Labor Day weekend, but other time slots are also available. Contact CBS Alumni Relations at 612-624-4770

Are the U of M and CBS Wordmarks on Your Web Site?
Did you know that the University requires the U wordmark on all print and electronic publications? CBS also encourages use the College wordmark. Consistent use strengthens the College's identity, which is important for fundraising, student and faculty recruitment, and connecting with the business community. The new CBS logo includes the University wordmark, so by using the CBS logo you will comply with the U's policy. For a copy of the logo, please contact Peggy Rinard,

Admissions Policy Change Won't Affect CBS Students
The Twin Cities campus is ending guaranteed admission to all undergraduate colleges effective this fall. In the future, each application will be individually reviewed. U officials say the change will allow them to manage class sizes, increase diversity, and consider factors beyond grades and test scores. Until now, applicants were guaranteed entry to the University if they met a December application deadline and their aptitude rating-a number derived from entrance exam scores and class rank-met or exceeded a score set by the college to which they applied. "It probably won't affect us too much," says CBS Interim Associate Dean John Anderson, "we have always drawn a remarkably able group of students." This fall 58 percent of freshman admitted to the College of Biological Sciences ranked in the top 10 percent of their class, the second highest of all the colleges at the University.

Promote the U During Election Campaign
The University Alumni Association (UMAA) urges all faculty, staff, and alumni to sing the praises of the U to candidates for public office during the election season. Please write to legislators and candidates to remind them about the U's important role in advancing the state's economy, shaping tomorrow's leaders, and advancing research. Your involvement will help the U gain the state funding urgently needed to realize academic goals and meet Minnesotans' expectations. To join the Legislative Network, call UMAA at 1-800-UMALUMS.

Join the New Student Convocation Processional
All CBS faculty are invited to be in the processional for Convocation, on Sept. 3 at 4:30 p.m. in Northrop Auditorium. Call Leanne Mielin at 624-1483 for further information about the processional. Following Convocation, there will be a celebration in the U Field House with dinner, music, prizes, and a presentation on U traditions.

Be a Part of CBS History
Have something you want to go into the time capsule for the Molecular and Cellular Biology Building? Check your cupboards now and send to Alaine Siniff by September 16. Reprints of significant journal articles, slides, objects used in research, or anything that represents the state of biology in 2002, would all be excellent contributions to the capsule. Contents will be displayed in a secure case in the MCBB lobby until the capsule is installed in early November, 2002. Alaine Siniff (sinif002@umn.edu) is in the Dean's Office, 123 Snyder Hall, 1475 Gortner Ave.

Pre-Health Professions Career Center
The Pre-Health Professions Career Center opens on September 4 in 2-571 and 2-585 Moos Tower. Staff will advise undergraduate students from throughout the U about preparing for careers in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, public health and other health sciences professions. Judy Beniak, nursing, is director. To learn more about the center, visit www.healthcareers.umn.edu or call (612)624-6767 after Sept.4.

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, Sept. 17th from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 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, is moderator. To register, contact the MNBIO office at 651-265-7840, or visit, www.mnbio.org

CBS Year-end Picnic Recognized
Thanks to outstanding volunteer participation, the CBS year-end picnic won the U of M Alumni Association's 2001-02 Program Extraordinaire award. The award will be presented at the UMAA Volunteer Appreciation Reception and Awards Program on Sept. 14. Thanks to everyone who volunteered!

Biology Week
Biology Week will be held September 16-20. CBS faculty are encouraged to attend the New Transfer Student Reception for incoming students on Tuesday, September 17, 4:30-6 p.m. in room L150 Carlson School of Management. Please RSVP to shuhta@cbs.umn.edu. Watch CBS News for more details.

SOAR Primate Freedom Project
The University of Minnesota has been identified as a possible target of the SOAR Primate Freedom Project over Labor Day weekend. Faculty and staff are encouraged to report any unusual or suspicious behavior to University of Minnesota police.

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Brain Van Ness, genetics, cell biology, and development, received $148,500 from the National Cancer Institute for "Genetic Polymorphisms in Myeloma."

Sarah Hobbie and Kendra McLauchlan, ecology, evolution and behavior, received $6,000 from the Land Institute for "The consequences of conversion from conventional agriculture to perennial grassland for soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics."

Ruth Shaw, ecology, evolution and behavior, and Kristin Mercer and Donald Wyse, agronomy and plant genetics, and were awarded $6,000 from the Land Institute for "The effect of crop-weed gene flow on wild sunflower."

Congratulations to BMBB Graduate Program student representatives for
the upcoming year: Matt Stone and Heather Hrodey, co-presidents; Sarah Mische,
COGS representative; Julius Stern-John, College of Biological Sciences Committee; Brigit Riley, Tania Schroeder, and Cheryl Jansen, Speaker Search Committee:

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August 22- September 2
CBS at the Minnesota State Fair. Contact CBS Alumni Relations, 612-624-4770 or denz0018@umn.edu

August 28
CBS Community Day, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

September 2
Labor Day holiday; no classes, offices closed.

September 3
Fall semester begins

September 5
Freshman Dinner, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center.

September 13
Maroon and Gold Fridays Kick-Off

September 13-15
New Student Weekend at Lake Itasca Biological Station.

September 14
UMAA Awards Dinner. Contact CBS Alumni Relations, 612-624-4770 or denz0018@umn.edu.

September 16-20
Biology Week. Contact Sarah Huhta at 612-624-9717 or shuhta@cbs.umn.edu.

September 21
Cedar Creek 60th Anniversary, Cedar Creek Natural History Area. Contact CBS Alumni Relations, 612-624-4770 or denz0018@umn.edu.

October 9
Molecular & Cellular Biology Building Dedication, 11:00 a.m. Program, tours, refreshments, time capsule presentation.

October 11
2nd Annual CBS Homecoming Picnic, lawn in front of Snyder Hall.
Contact CBS Alumni Relations, 612-624-4770 or denz0018@umn.edu.

November 7
Mentor Program Kick-Off, 6:00 p.m. Contact CBS Alumni Relations, 612-624-4770 or denz0018@umn.edu.

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Next issue: September 11— Copy deadline: September 4

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