The Harbinger
April 7, 2008
Energizing Education with Genomics: Big Science Partnerships Propel Small College Advantages
The Center for Deciphering Life’s Languages (CDLL) presented its inaugural symposium on Friday, April 4, 2008. Hiram understands the increasing importance of molecular information in today’s world and the need for more young scientists who understand, interpret, and use this information to solve new problems - and can communicate their findings in ways that increase the scientific literacy of our society.
CDLL involves undergraduate and high school students in novel research projects as part of the classroom in order to teach basic scientific principles, excite students about getting the most out of their biology education, and encourage them to seek out further research experiences beyond the classroom.
Friday’s symposium included numerous presentations and panel discussions, including:
“Every Gene Tells a Story” - Informational Art Exhibition (throughout the symposium).
“Biology in Space: Visionary Scientific Possibilities of our Time” - Robert Ferl ’76,
director and professor, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida.
Poster presentations on genome annotation and functional genomics - Hiram College students.
Session I – for high school science teachers and students - Hands-on laboratory activities with past participants of Hiram College’s genomics academies and outreach programs, Facilitated by Stephanie Lammlein ’96, high school science teacher.
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Tuajuanda Jordan |
Session II – for college faculty members - Informational session with a Howard Hughes Medical Institute director. Learn about collaborative opportunities that may exist for your institution through HHMI initiatives, such as the recently announced Science Education Alliance and involving undergraduates in bacteriophage discovery and research. Tuajuanda Jordan, senior program officer & director, Science Education Alliance, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Luncheon and program - “Preparing Students, Parents and Teachers to Thrive in a Gene Age” Tuajuanda Jordan, senior program officer & director, Science Education Alliance, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Panel discussion: Collaborative STEM research as a teaching and motivational tool in high schools, moderated by Brad Goodner - Tuajuanda Jordan, senior program officer & director, Science Education Alliance, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Steven Slater, professor and director, Department of Applied Biological Sciences & The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University Polytechnic.
“Big Science Initiatives” Joseph Fernández ’82, president & CEO, Active Motif.
Panel discussion I: The biotechnology industry,moderated by Brad Goodner - Barry
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Steven Slater and Barry Goldman |
Goldman, lead scientist, Monsanto Company; David Maske, manager of business development, Ganeden Biotech; Steven Slater, professor and director, Department of Applied Biological Sciences & The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University Polytechnic; Norman Kelker ’61, senior vice president, Enzo Biochem.
Panel discussion II: Biotech entrepreneurship, Joseph Fernández ’82, president & CEO, Active Motif; Donald Kaatz ’74, president & CEO, Adventure Growth; Mark Kesic ’81, president & CEO, Kesic & Company.
Reception & Hiram College student poster session, All symposium participants, guests and students.
Dinner with Hiram College undergraduate research students and Keynote address: “Genomics as a Tool to Study Bacterial Pathogens” Victor DiRita, professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology & Unit of Lab Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School.
This symposium was made possible with the support and assistance of Joseph Fernández ’82and Active Motif, LLC (activemotif.com); Ganeden Biotech, Inc. (ganedenlabs.com); The Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation; Howard Hughes Medical Institute (hhmi.org); Donald W. Kaatz ’74; Norman and Hanna Kelker ’61/–; and Monsanto (www.monsanto.com).
Alumni Weekend will be here before you know it!
It may only be the beginning of April, but June 13-15 - Alumni Weekend - is right around the corner! The theme this year is “tradition” - and we have a fantastic weekend planned out, with something for everyone. Choose from several events on Friday night - golf, or “roast” a retiring dean, or take in the renovations at the James H. Barrow Field Station. Stay with us in traditional campus housing (relive those bygone years!), then participate in any of over 20 special activities and events on Saturday - THEN feast Saturday evening at the Reunion Dinners. Sunday, wind down with some Tai Chi then an all-campus brunch.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend bread-and-soup lunch Saturday afternoon - for free.
There’s so much to show you! Look at the full listing of events in the Spring 2008 issue of the Hiram Magazine (currently arriving in mailboxes); or call the Office of Alumni Relations at 800.705.5050. Better yet, look at events and register online on Hiram’s new and improved Alumni web site. Go to alumni.hiram.edu, check out the events, and sign up to your heart’s content. While you’re online, why not update your profile, and send a class note?
Start planning now, and prepare to reconnect with tradition at Hiram.
Exams, and then there were three… more weeks, that is
Exam time is here, even if the schedule is not exactly as had been originally planned (thanks to the weather-induced early spring break). Here’s a reminder of how the amended week will flow:
The 12 week classes continue until Tuesday, April 8th: Monday the 7th will follow a WEDNESDAY schedule, and Tuesday the 8th will follow a THURSDAY schedule.
Wednesday, April 9th will be a reading day.
The final exam schedule will be condensed into two days – Thursday and Friday. Students, particularly student athletes, should communicate with their professors regarding scheduling conflicts that may occur on account of this modification. Any student with more than two exams on a single day can contact his or her professors to discuss an accommodation.
We will have a shortened term break, and the 3-week classes will resume as scheduled on Wednesday, April 16th.
The Weekend College Schedules is unchanged from that originally reported.
Hiram College Junior Softball Player Chastine Romanello has Record-Setting Week
Hiram College junior All-North Coast Athletic Conference first baseman Chastine Romanello (Phoenix, Ariz./Barry Goldwater) played a pivotal role this past week helping the Terriers to a 3-1 record and became the school all-time career home run and runs batted in leader.
Romanello tied the all-time RBI mark in the first game against The College of Wooster on Wednesday (Apr. 3) and became the all-time career home run leader in the same game on a solo shot. She later broke the RBI record in the second game with a pair of RBI. She finished the two-game series five-of-six (.833 batting average) at the plate with a home run, two triples, a double, three runs scored, and three RBI.
Yesterday (Sunday, Apr. 6) against Penn State-Behrend, Romanello added to both her records with another home run and two RBI in the second game against the Behrend Lions as part of a two-game sweep. For the week, she batted an outstanding .538 at the plate (seven-of-13) with two home runs, two triples, two doubles, four runs scored, and five RBI.
To date, she has now hit six career homers, surpassing fellow teammate and current junior Heidi Gibson (Canal Fulton/Northwest) who has recorded five career home runs so far and has tallied 74 career RBI passing, former Terrier Carrie McCaughtry’s (1998-2001) mark of 70.
Other news at Hiram College
Computer science majors place at Carnegie Mellon programming contest; physics students present at American Physical Society meeting - http://www.hiram.edu/news/article.php?id=1687
Climate change remains a hot topic with public talk about "ecophobia" - http://www.hiram.edu/news/article.php?id=1682
Ecology Coatings Vice President and Founder Is Recognized with the J.J. Turner http://www.hiram.edu/news/article.php?id=1681
Prospective students encouraged to attend spring open houses at Hiram College - http://www.hiram.edu/news/article.php?id=1680
Environmental studies majors awarded Lubrizol Foundation scholarships - http://www.hiram.edu/news/article.php?id=1678
Former Saturday Night Live cast member and current Web Junk host Jim Breuer comes to Hiram College on April 25
http://www.hiram.edu/news/article.php?id=1693
Hiram Happenings
Monday, April 7, 2008
ATP - 3rd Hinsdale – 4:15 p.m.
Opera/Musical Theatre Workshop – Frohring Recital Hall – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Softball @ Ohio Northern University- 3:30 p.m.
Opera/Musical Theatre Workshop – Frohring Recital Hall – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
ATP – 3rd Hinsdale – 9 a.m.
APC – 3rd Hinsdale – 11 a.m.
Baseball vs. Case Western Reserve University – 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
12 Week Final Exams
Friday, April 11, 2008
12 Week Final Exams
Saturday, April 12, 2008
MAIS Information Session – 10 a.m. – Contact the Adult Studies Office for location x5161
Baseball vs. Allegheny College – 1 p.m.
Softball vs. Wittenberg University – 1 p.m.
Men’s Golf @ Ohio Wesleyan University Invitational – 9 a.m.
Submit corrections and articles for the next Harbinger to Roger Cram at CramRF@hiram.edu.