VA Scientists Fall 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Virginia Scientists Volume XXVI, Issue 2 Fall 2020 “Virginia Scientists” is the official newsletter of the Virginia Academy of Join Virginia BioBlitz 2020 on September 26 Science (VAS). This publi- The Virginia Academy of Science cation offers information (VAS) is organizing a Statewide for VAS members such as BioBlitz, Virginia BioBlitz 2020, to upcoming events, past promote exploration, discovery, citizen science, and conservation. events, scholarships/ Come join us to survey the biodi- awards information, ac- versity in every part of the Com- complishments of VAS monwealth. This is a VIRTUAL EVENT facilitated through iNatu- members and other timely ralist, so, you can join from home information. or anywhere else in Virginia! This event is open to anyone willing to spend some time outdoors, ex- Editors: plore biodiversity and learn more about species living around you. Sujan Henkanaththegedara scientists, naturalists… anyone! All Virginia Bioblitz iNaturalist pro- We welcome toddlers, K-12 stu- it requires is registration at our ject and reporting species around Deborah Neely-Fisher dents and teachers, scouts, college students, wildlife professionals, website, download iNaturalist App you! …cont’d. P.2 into your smart phone, join the President’s Message Inside this issue: I am honored to serve as the Presi- only celebrate our history of ser- science education and advocacy for dent of the Virginia Academy of vice to the scientific enterprise of the citizens of the Commonwealth Science for 2020-21 and am hum- Virginia but also to assess our in these trying times. I am pleased bled to be serving during what is current position amongst the to report that we are taking strong VAS 2021 and Under- 2 one of the most tumultuous years many state and national scientific action in response to this challenge. graduate Meetings in the history of our Academy. The organizations serving Virginia’s The Academy is sponsoring a COVID-19 pandemic forced us to scientists and to chart a course statewide campaign called Virginia Virginia Scientist in 3 cancel our traditional annual forward that allows this Academy Bioblitz to engage the students and meeting in 2020, has moved our to continue to play a vibrant role citizens of the …cont’d. P.7 the Spotlight Fall Undergraduate Research in the Commonwealth. While the meeting to a virtual platform, and research enterprise will always Science Education 4 has forced us to reconsider every- occupy a central role in the opera- Committee Updates thing that we do both personally tions of the Academy, it is clear and professionally in the name of that several national-level profes- the public safety and health of the sional societies have largely sub- 2020 Virtual VJAS 5 Commonwealth. While we do not sumed the role that we have Meeting as of yet know when this threat to played for several decades as a the public health will subside, we primary platform for this re- can take comfort in the fact that search. This presents an exciting Floral of Virginia Up- 6 our Academy can play a part in but uncertain opportunity for us dates helping the people of Virginia to as an Academy: what roles can and be educated on their health and should we fill to remain a vibrant safety while developing critical and relevant force for the scientific Member Achieve- 8 roles in scientific education and life of the Commonwealth? ments outreach that will long outlast this It is here where the perils of pandemic. COVID-19 unite with the shifting Abrams Creek Wet- 9 As the Academy rapidly approach- face of our Academy’s purpose. As Michael J. Wolyniak lands Partnership es its Centennial year in 2023, it is an Academy, we must do all we President, VAS critical that we step back and not can to support the continuation of Page 2 Virginia Scientists VAS 2021 Annual Meeting As with everything in the current times, there is uncertainty regarding our plans for the 2021 Virginia Acade- my of Science Annual Meeting. James Madison University in Harrisonburg, who were slated to host us and the Virginia Junior Academy of Science in 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, have graciously offered to defer their invitation to us to 2021, and we sincerely hope we will meet in person in Harrisonburg this com- ing May. If the pandemic’s biological or economic effects force us to once again cancel the meeting, we will press forward with a virtual gathering. Stay tuned as we work out our plans in response to the continuing public health crisis, and rest assured that we will gather as an Academy in one form or another in 2021. The 2020 Fall Undergraduate Research meeting has been scheduled for November 7, 2020 at Hampden- Sydney College. The organizers are already planning for a variety of formats for this meeting depending on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall. Regardless, the meeting stands to once again provide the Commonwealth’s undergraduates with an outstanding way to gain professional presentation experience, learn more about prospective STEM careers, and gain financial support for their research efforts. Submitted by Michael J. Wolyniak President, Virginia Academy of Science Associate Professor of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College 2020 Fall Virtual Undergraduate Research Meeting hosted by Hampden-Sydney College Due to COVID-19, this year’s annual Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting is being held virtually for the first time. It will be hosted by Hampden-Sydney College on November 7, 2020. Begun in 2001, the meeting is designed as a way for undergraduate scientists from across the Commonwealth to prepare research posters and compete for $500 grants in support of their ongoing research. Winners of these grants will present their final projects in May at the Virginia Academy of Science Annual Meeting to be held in 2021 at James Madison University. Thanks to the generosity of the Academy, at least 5 grants are expected to be awarded at the Meeting this year. Other highlights include a keynote presentation from Dr. Sujan Henkanaththegedara of Longwood Uni- versity on his research in conservation biology, and a career panel featuring scientists in academic, govern- ment, and industrial positions. Submitted by Amorette Barber President-Elect and The Program Chair for the 2020 Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting, Virginia Academy of Science Associate Professor of Biology, Longwood University Virginia BioBlitz 2020 Contd. from P 1 When: Saturday, September 26 What: Virtual Kickoff event at 9:00am (check website for Zoom link) Where: Anywhere in Virginia Why: Use iNaturalist to find as many species as you can for at least 30 min. You can find more information and register at Virginia BioBlitz website at https://sites.google.com/view/virginiabioblitz/. Please spread the word to your family, friends, students and neighbors. We are counting on you to find and record every species in our beautiful state. If you have any questions, please contact us at vabio- [email protected]. Submitted by Sujan Henkanaththegedara Treasurer, VAS, and Program Chair for Virginia BioBlitz, Associate Professor of Biology, Longwood University Volume XXVI, Issue 2 Page 3 Virginia Scientist in the Spotlight “Virginia Scientist in the mentor 2-3 undergraduate re- Spot-light” series introduc- search students each year as part es scientists in Virginia cov- of a Directed Research course ering various scientific dis- (BIOL495) where we focus on my current research interests as a ciplines. Our guest scientist team. This is a very rewarding for this issue is: course as many of my students stay with me for 2 years as they Gary D. Isaacs work on their research project. Over the past few years I have had Affiliation: Professor of Biolo- the opportunity to take on my first gy, Department of Biology & Ph.D. student serving as her pro- Chemistry, Liberty University, ject leader and research mentor Lynchburg, VA (BIOM889/890). Looking over all these courses, I get to use research Education: I was a pre-Med as a teaching tool to educate both derivatives, we demonstrated an major at Liberty University from large groups of students and a HPLC-based approach that could ’95-’99. It was during this time small research team. resolve the 5 main cytosine forms that I fell in love with the State of that constituted the methylation “Be open to Virginia. Growing up in the state Your research? Past and current pathway. Our findings also sug- of Delaware, I was not familiar projects? gested that previous calculations serendipity! Many with the amazing views of rocky, Overall, my research interests deal of cytosine methylation ratios river paths or sunsets behind with the epigenetic modifications might be biased to inappropriately of what I believe mountains. I became awe-struck that are associated with human favor the unmodified form (2). by the beautiful skyline of moun- disease states. Specifically, I focus to be the coolest tains, especially in the fall time. on DNA methylation and the role We just finished our third project After leaving VA with my B.S. that plays in regulating gene ex- which examined the effects of folic times in science degree I taught high school biolo- pression in the brain. As for my acid on cognition and gene expres- gy and chemistry for 3 years. It past research projects with stu- sion in the brain. Briefly, we com- trace back to an was during this time that I real- dents, several have resulted in pared the behavior of mice on a ized my love for teaching science publication so I will just mention folate-free or control diet and experiment NOT and how fun the ‘pursuit of those projects briefly. determined that mice without knowledge’ could actually be.