Alumni Advisory Board Members Dr. John Atkinson St. Louis, Missouri Dr. James Bredfeldt Seattle, Washington Dr. Michael Breed Boulder, Colorado Welcome Letter Dr. David Brown Wichita, Kansas he grassroots “ Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science ” worked in collaboration F. Nicholas Franano with professional science organizations to designate 2009 as the “ Year of Science .” Kansas City, Missouri T The impetus for this celebration of scientific achievement was the shared 200th birthdays Dr. Ben Hall of Charles Darwin, author of “ The Origin of Species ,” and Abraham Lincoln, who founded Bellevue, Washington the U.S. National Academy of Sciences on March 3rd, 1863. Darwin and Lincoln were born Dr. Curtis Harris on the same day, 12 February 1809. Our BioHawk theme builds on this Year of Science Garrett Park, Maryland celebration and shows how the KU Biological Sciences promote the public appreciation Dr. John Howieson and understanding of contemporary science, and how we collectively contribute to Portland, Oregon research and education about science. Dr. Joan Hunt Kansas City, Kansas In addition to this theme, we also bring you news of major achievements at the University of Kansas and in the KU Biological Sciences. Despite the recent economic downturn, KU has Dr. Cindi Johnson Shawnee, Kansas sustained strong enrollments for the 2009-2010 academic year. KU was ranked number 43 in the U.S. News and World Report list of Best Colleges in the United States, and within the Dr. Irving Johnson Sanibel Island, Florida Biological Sciences, our graduate program has been ranked 30th among public universities. Moreover, the Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Molecular Biosciences Dr. Simon Kuo maintained strong extramural grant support during 2009. Overland Park, Kansas Michael Linenberger On pages 2-8, the Director of the Undergraduate Biology Program (KUUB), and the Chairs Seattle, Washington of the Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Molecular Biosciences Drew Masters highlight the events and achievements of their respective academic units. On pages 9-12, Montclair, New Jersey we celebrate the Year of Science and focus on how the Biological Sciences at KU relate to Dr. Ray Meyn the year’s events. Linking past, present, and future, this section consists of essays written Houston, Texas by KU graduate students who interviewed Drs. Thomas Taylor and Edward Wiley at KU and Dr. Richard Morgan distinguished alumnus Dr. David Hillis, currently on the faculty at the University of Texas. Lenexa, Kansas Drs. Taylor and Hillis, both members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, provide perspectives on this important national resource. Dr. Wiley discusses Charles Darwin’s Dr. Ken Nelson Wichita, Kansas remarkable contributions to understanding evolutionary biology. Dr. Gard Otis Ontario, Canada Highlighting excellence in graduate and undergraduate education, pages 16-18 include personal profiles of six current students. On page 20 we introduce KU’s new Chancellor, Dr. Paul Payne Dr. Bernadette Gray-Little, who joined the University of Kansas in August 2009. Wilmington, North Carolina We are especially indebted to all of the Biological Sciences contributors listed on page 21. Dr. Scott Porter Your thoughtful support is deeply appreciated by all of us, and we urge you to stay in touch Andover, Kansas and to return to the KU campus frequently! Our next meeting of the Biological Sciences Dr. Randy Scott Alumni Advisory Board is scheduled for April 9, 2010, and we will update you with new Los Altos Hills, California information from the Board and other alumni in the next issue of the BioHawk . Dr. Terry Wall Shawnee Mission, Kansas Val Smith Robert Cohen Christopher Hau/er Gregory Burg Liaison & Coordinator, Acting Chair, Chair, Director, Dr. Michael Webb Biological Sciences Alumni Department of Molecular Department of Ecology Undergraduate Biology and Wellesley, Maine Advisory Board Biosciences and Evolutionary Biology Human Biology Programs 2010 Calendar • Alumni Spring Lecture - April 8, 2010 • Alumni Board Meeting - April 9, 2010 • Recognition Ceremony - May 15, 2010 • Commencement - May 16, 2010 CO NTENTS S 10 -15 Building on the Foundations E of the Pa st and Meeting the R Challenges of the Future U by Annalise Nawrocki, David McLeod and Francine Abe T A 20 New Chancellor E F DEPARTMENTAL 2 KU Undergraduate Biology by Greg Burg Chris Hau/er 4 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Editor, by Chris Haufler vulgare @ku.edu 7 Molecular Biosciences Kandi White by Robert Cohen Editor, 16 The Next Generation of Graduate Students [email protected] BioHawk is published annually from private funds, and produced by the Biological Sciences, Gil Ortiz 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045-7600 for Alumni and Friends. Articles may be Graphic Designer, reprinted with special permission by contacting Kandi White, telephone (785) 864-5882 or Photography e-mail [email protected]. [email protected] The University of Kansas is committed to providing programs and activities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital or parental status and, to the extent covered by law, age or veteran status. Jenna Goodman We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this issue of BioHawk a success. Without Development Director, your support it would not be possible. A special thanks to all of those who contributed material and College of Liberal Arts images. and Sciences [email protected] Greg Burg Director, Undergraduate Biology [email protected] KU Undergraduate Biology mong the many things we cele - As with the changing of the seasons, there Abrated during 2009, one that was are ongoing events on campus that we come of particular note to biologists world - to expect and look forward to--the new faces wide was the celebration of the 200th of incoming students in the Fall, the farewell anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the to those who leave Mt. Oread in May, and the 150th anniversary of his publication of On the opportunity to celebrate achievements in the Origin of Species, in which Darwin describes and classroom and research laboratory. KU’s “Always bear in presents evidence for natural selection as the Undergraduate Biology Program welcomed operating force in the evolution of species. In two new BioScholars into the class of 2013, honor of Darwin, the KU Natural History Museum Alex Rippberger and Daniel Simon, both from threw a birthday party and the KU Libraries Olathe, Kansas. Alex’s long-term goal is to engage mind that your displayed some of its natural history holdings in research related to human biology while Daniel (including a first edition of Origin). There is a hopes to pursue a career in medicine. Alex and growing need for science education and science Daniel join a growing list of BioScholars who have own resolution literacy among the American public, including been successful at KU. Two BioScholars complet - increased awareness of Darwin’s theory as a cor - ed their KU biology requirements in May 2009-- nerstone of modern biology. In recognition of Kyle Clifton (B.S. Biology – Organismal Biology), this demand, KU’s new chancellor, Dr. Bernadette who is interested in pursing graduate education to succeed is Gray-Little, was invited to the White House to take in animal behavior, and Will Pass (B.S. Biology - part in the "Educate to Innovate" event, which Neurobiology), who is completing his second honored excellence in science, technology, degree in Business at KU. engineering, and math education. Chancellor more important Gray-Little and three of her fellow university presi - Once again Undergraduate Biology dents delivered a letter from 79 universities to recognized the outstanding achievements of President Obama pledging to address the nation - our students – those who received departmental than any other.” al shortage of math and science teachers. Key to honors and those who were awarded scholarships KU’s effort towards this goal is the Center for and awards. We recognized the following accom - Science Education’s UKanTeach Program, a new plishments during the 2009 Undergraduate collaborative effort between the College of Liberal Biology Graduation Recognition Ceremony. - Abraham Lincoln Arts and Sciences and the School of Education Receiving Biology Honors were Ashrita Abraham that prepares and supports secondary mathemat - (advisor: Kristi Neufeld), Preston Alltizer (advisor: ics and science teachers. The UKanTeach certifi - Kristi Neufeld), Katelyn Deckert (advisor: Yoshi cate program is designed to be completed along Azuma), Patrick Dolan (advisor: Matthew with an approved B.S. or B.A. degree in mathe - Buechner), Julia Gutkin (advisor: Scott Hefty), matics, biology, chemistry, earth and space sci - Ali Nabavizadeh (advisor: Larry Martin), Rebecca ence, or physics. At the request of the UKanTeach Reed (advisor: Edward Auer, Jr.), Shelbi Russell Program, Undergraduate Biology developed a (advisor: Kirsten Jensen), Thornton Thompson new B.S. Biology Major option – Teaching Biology. (advisor: David Davido), and Jason Weber (advisor: Starting with the Fall 2009 semester, KU students John Karanicolas). were able to declare the B.S. Teaching Biology These dedicated young scientists covered a Major. A number of students already in breath of research activities including the charac - UKanTeach were satisfying the course require - terization and stabilization of tumor suppressor ments in anticipation of this option. We are