Outstanding Volunteer Service Award

Posted on May 4, 2012 by admin

Grant Hansen, graduate student in the new Plant Biology Professional Science Master’s program, has been awarded a 2012 Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, through the Office of Volunteer Programs, University of Illinois. Grant was recognized for his dedication to market research and business consulting partnerships with small businesses, which he conducts through ECI-SCORE, a CU student volunteer business organization. He was nominated for this honor by his SCORE mentor, Dr. Mel DeGeeter, who also attended the awards ceremony (inset).

Congratulations Grant!

Congratulations Dr Ainsworth and Dr Long!

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

Congratulations to plant biology’s Lisa Ainsworth, winner of the Shull Award, and Steve Long, winner of the Kettering Award!

The Charles Albert Shull Award is granted annually by the American Society of Plant Biologists to an early career scientist for outstanding investigations in the field of plant biology. Lisa received this award for her impressive scholarship, as well as her exemplary teaching and service. Lisa’s pioneering research on impacts of global and environmental change on both natural and managed plant ecosystems is widely appreciated.

The Charles F. Kettering Award was established to recognize excellence in the field of photosynthesis. Steve earned this year’s award for his seminal discoveries of the responses of photosynthesis to changes in the physical environment as well as the role of photosynthesis in mitigating climate change. Most recently, he and collaborators are developing plants as renewable sources of liquid fuel and addressing the social, economic, and ethical dimensions of allocating part of the food producing landscape to the production of fuel.

http://my.aspb.org/?AF_Awards

World of Biology Photo Competition Winners

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

The 1st Annual World of Biology Photo Competition was a fantastic success! Of the many entries, nine winning entries were chosen from three categories.

Check out the winning entries and start planning for next year!

Nature:

Scales of Just-hiss, by Daniel Urban

Disclosure, by Joan Huber

Iguenas in Love, by Dena Goldberg

Biologists at Work:

Art in his Natural Habitat, by Lauren Fields

When do we eat?, by Dan Mikros

Fieldwork in Ireland, by Kate Murphy

Biological Imaging:

Gills of Lucania Parva, by Emma Berdan

Tipulidae Oleracea, by an Mikros

Coprinus, by Charles Bee

Women in Science: Panel Discussion on Tuesday, April 24th from 4-6pm in Music Room, Levis Center

Posted on April 17, 2012 by admin

Please join Women in Science as we hold our second panel discussion!

Topic: Women Don’t Ask: How to become an effective negotiator

Panelists:

Teresa Cardador (Assistant Professor, School of Labor & Employment Relations)

Don Ort (Robert Emerson Professor of Plant Biology)

Alexis Thompson (Director, Postdoctoral Affairs Office)

Sarah Zehr (Assistant Dean and Director, Engineering Career Services)

Do you know what you want for your career, but you are not sure how to get it? How can you make an impression with the right attitude?

This panel is meant to help women of all levels, from undergraduates to professionals, to be confident about communicating what they want, and to become effective negotiators at any stage of their careers.

Date: Tuesday April 24th
Time: 4-6pm
Place: Music Room, Levis Center

Thank you, and hope to see you there!

Flyer for Second WIS Panel

SIB Junior wins Research Fellowship

Posted on April 12, 2012 by admin

Congratulations to Stephanie Klein, a junior majoring in Integrative Biology, who has been awarded a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). Stephanie is one of fifteen students selected in the highly competitive national competition in 2012. She will receive a stipend and research funds to study “Auxin control of Medicago truncatula root development under elevated CO2” over the summer with Dr. Andrew Leakey, as well as support to travel to Providence, RI to present her findings at the annual meeting of ASPB next year.

SIB Spring Picnic

Posted on April 11, 2012 by admin

Posted on behalf of Jo-anne Holley,

Spring is here and it’s time for the annual SIB picnic! All staff, faculty,post-docs and graduate students are welcome. We will again be at Pavillion at Hessel park on the afternoon Sunday April 22nd.

The event will be catered by Black Dog for meat eaters and BBQ also provided by Red Herring for vegetarians. We’ll have soda as well, but please feel free to contribute sides for everyone to share.

We’ve also got some games and activities planned — frisbee, soccer, bocce, among others. I’m even going to bring my Australian Rules football.

View Larger Map

**Here are the precise details**:
When: Sunday April 22nd
Time: 2-5pm
Where: The pavilion at Hessel Park, Kirby Ave, Champaign
Map: http://bit.ly/GKM5H5
Catering: Black Dog and vegetarian options from Red Herring
What to bring: Side dishes and special food requirements, lawn chairs, loved ones.

I hope to see lots of people there!

Cheers,

Jeff Miguel Visits the Galapagos

Posted on March 29, 2012 by admin

Many of our Integrative Biology students choose to study abroad and conduct research in the field. Jeff Miguel, pictured to the right, spent the fall of 2010 in Ecuador and the Galapagos islands studying Marine Ecology by enrolling in the Galapagos program (GAIAS) at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

Jeff spent the first month in Quito and the coast of Ecuador and the last three months on the actual Galapagos Islands. During his time there, he stayed with host families and got to know the locals quite well. This picture was taken on a regular day during his walk to class.

Yes, there was even coursework! Jeff completed five courses with a Marine Ecology focus in three week modules.

If you’re interested in taking your studies beyond the classroom, talk with an Integrative Biology Academic Advisor today!

Illinois Science Olympiad Tournament needs volunteers

Posted on March 19, 2012 by admin

Volunteers needed! The Illinois Science Olympiad Tournament will be held on campus on April 14. High school and middle school students will compete in 46 events in the disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology. No experience needed to volunteer. Contact Bob Coverdill at coverdil@illinois.edu for more information.

URL: http://www.illinoisolympiad.org/

Conservatory Spring Open House

Posted on March 7, 2012 by admin

This weekend is our Spring Open House. Come out and enjoy this beautiful Spring weather here at the conservatory. The conservatory will be dressed with some spring blooming shrubs and flowers. This weekend we will have an orchid plant sale for a fund raiser for the conservatory. The Central Illinois Orchid Society will be here to answer any questions you may have about orchids. In addition to the show and sale, on Sat., one of the members of the Orchid Society will do a workshop on ‘How to repot your orchid’. It will be at 1:00 on Sat., March 10th in room 1103. Also, the Orchid Society is offering to repot your orchid for a small fee of $5.00 if you bring your own pot or you can purchase a pot from the Orchid Society for a minimum charge.

Lastly, Dianne Noland’s Floral Design class is doing to shows of ‘Floral Design to Music’. These are always fun to watch. The shows are at 11am and 1pm in room 1125

The hours for our Spring show are:

Saturday March 10th: 10-3
Saturday March 10th: 1:00 workshop on ‘How to Repot your Orchid’ room 1103
Sunday March 11th: 1-3

Thank you and I hope you will make us part of your weekend activities.

Debbie Black

Outstanding Student – Muhammed Fazeel

Posted on March 5, 2012 by admin

SIB major, Muhammed Fazeel, is one of five finalists five finalists for the Lemelson-MIT $30,000 Illinois Student Prize for innovation.

Muhammed is working on an innovation called “In Case of Emergency” or I.C.E. This is a device that can call emergency services in case of major cardiac events that is affordable and non-invasive. He is also working on another project called Tabule, an instructor-student communication tool that is simple, efficient and ready to use on any smartphone or laptop. Tabule is currently in its beta-testing phase.

The winner of the prize will be announced and awarded the prize at a ceremony scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on March 7, 2012 in the auditorium of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA; 1205 W. Clark, Urbana), on the University of Illinois campus. The awards ceremony is open to the public, and will be immediately followed by a reception for all attendees. We’re rooting for you, Muhammed!

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