The Science department is going to host a FREE day camp about Biotechnology on August 11-12, 2009. The camp will run from 9 am to 4 pm, and all materials and lunch will be provided. During the camp, students will learn fingerprinting, sample collection, and DNA technologies such as PCR, sequencing, and protein analysis. If you're interested, call Jeanine Farabaugh at 886-6417 to register. The camp will be limited to 16 campers. Hope to see you there! Students should be in grades 10-12 or entering college this fall (teachers also welcome!)

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congratulations to all graduating students! This year, for the first time, we had Biology majors graduating, including Adam Dryburgh, Kris Hansen, Jessica Taylor. I am so proud of these students and look forward to publishing their accomplishments in the years to come. The department isn't at rest though, we're already planning for some fun new courses this fall (like Botany and Ecology) and recruiting students for research. We have four students doing internships this summer (Thomas Hoffman, Chris Sawyer, Sam Hanik, and Tara Kennedy) at local agencies and organizations. I'll be teaching Microbiology so you'll be hearing from me! Have a great summer!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This year the 60 posters in the undergraduate symposium were fantastic. Creative topics, a wide range of fields represented, and enthusiastic students made the judging tougher than ever. I was quite proud of a group of my Bio II students who won the Health Studies and Sciences Primary Division second place. The group included Julie Walters, Mallory Steffke, Natalie Maharajh, and Jennifer Green.

Mark your calendar for next year, the event will be April 20, 2010!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To junior Biology major Tara Kennedy, who won first place in the undergraduate student poster competition at Cedar Crest College during a regional meeting for ecology and evolution. Tara's project involved behavioral responses of cichlids to various colors. Tara was mentored by Dr. Natalie vanBreukelen.

If you're interested in this and other student research, we'll see you Tues April 21 at the 4th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. It will be held in the gym from 3:30-5:00 and there are about 60 posters entered in the competition in all fields of study!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This will be a busy week! It's Holy Week, an inspiring time for our faculty, staff, and students to consider the challenges that Jesus faced in the last week of his earthly life. The Mount welcomes members of all faiths to participate in the Holy Week celebrations, and encourages open discussions and sharing of the rituals those in different communities celebrate. Among the events this week is a visit from Sr. Farley, Professor Emerita from Yale University, who will speak on Wed. April 8 at 1 and 7 in Cosgrave. Sr. Farley will share her experiences helping those with HIV/AIDS. I am taking my Biology II lab students to hear Sr. Farley, and engage in thoughtful learning about the global challenges we continue to face.

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 8:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sara and Jen show some 3rd graders how to find rodent bones.

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Should be a good one this year! We're headed to Juniata Gap Elementary School this Saturday the 28th, and my college students from Bio II will guide an owl pellet dissection! I think the 3-4 graders will enjoy that. Pictures soon!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 7:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today we welcomed Dr. Ellsworth from Windber Research Institute to campus for a guest lecture. She spoke to a group of about fifty students and described "Pathways in Biomedical Science". This included her own interest in human genetics and the various options for students studying in biomedical fields. Her descriptions of genetic disorders, and the ethics of biomedicine, made for an interesting and thought-provoking talk.

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So you have to scroll to page 8, but then you'll see his smiling face!
http://www.vcom.vt.edu/2013/forms/VCOM_Class_of_2013_View_Book_031609.pdf

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lots of events coming up!

March 17: Movie Night at the Library (Erin Brockovich)
Join us at 6 pm to see the movie!. Discussion to follow.

March 24: Dr. Rachel Ellsworth.
3:30 in Pierce Hall 210. Dr. Ellsworth will discuss Human Genetics and her research about breast cancer. Dr. Ellsworth is a local scientist from WRI.

March 28: Super Science Saturday
Students from my Bio II class are going to help me excite local schoolchildren about science! It's at Juniata Gap Elementary School. Pictures soon!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Next week is our mid-term break, and everyone is ready! Students will be writing papers and catching up on reading, and faculty will be busy grading. My students in Bio II will be working on their undergraduate research on effects of phosphate on pond life. We've got an experiment set up in the lab with different pollutants (detergent, fertilizer, etc) and we're going to be looking at the effects on algal growth. I'm headed to NYC to visit a friend, then getting caught up on lecture and lab prep. Good luck to the folks headed on a service trip to Jamaica!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week we took some time to consider the man who changed scientific thinking forever, Charles Darwin. February 12, 2009 was the 200th anniversary of his birth, and 150th anniversary of his book :"On the Origin of Species". His thoughts on species changing over time through a process called "natural selection" changed the world view of evolutionary relationships between living things. His thoughtful observations during a five year expedition on the HMS Beagle are still classic examples of how one man can make CHANGE. In this new century and with a new President, there are many lessons we can apply to our understanding of how the world works. For more information, visit: http://www.darwin200.org/

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

to Kris Hansen, a Biology major who just got accepted at Virginia Tech Medical School!
http://www.vcom.vt.edu/

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

to Linnea Mock, who has been accepted in the professional phase of the PA (Physician's Assistant) program at Lock Haven University!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 6:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Science and Math department is thrilled to host PhD candidate Jennifer Snekser on Feb 17th. Ms. Snekser will give a talk at 3:30 in Cosgrave meeting rooms about the Behavior Ecology of Fish. This lecture is open to the public and free of charge.

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The semester is well underway, and students are taking exams, writing papers, and preparing presentations. One of the Bio majors, Julie, is planning an undergraduate research project for summer 2009 involving study of Eunotia diatoms at abandoned mine drainage sites. I'm excited to mentor this project! In the next few weeks (Feb 12 to be exact), scientists will celebrate the life and times of Charles Darwin, marking the 200th anniversary of his birthdate. Lectures and events are planned around the world, and many popular magazines (Scientific American, National Geographic) highlight the revelations that Darwin made to change science as we know it!

Posted by Dr. Merrilee Anderson at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)