Science Initiative Newslette :: November 2008

The Science Initiative Newsletter November 2008

The Science Initiative is the joint campaign launched in the fall of 2003 by the Natural Science, Nursing and Mathematics (NSNM) division and the Advancement Department to revitalize undergraduate science education at Aquinas College. The campaign has three related goals: • fund the purchase of scientific instrumentation, • establish an endowment to support the maintenance and licensing of research equipment and related materials, and • establish endowments to support scholarships and undergraduate summer research programs for science students.

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Science Initiative Newsletter that will be sent to you digitally three times a year—November, March and June.

The newsletter will report on the activities of the science students and faculty of the NSNM Division; acquaint you with the progress of the Science Initiative; and keep you updated on our continuing commitment to revitalize science education at Aquinas College. We would appreciate your reactions to what you find in the newsletter, suggestions for its improvement and ideas for future articles or features.

Corporation, and Voss Glass to spend October break week completing a long-desired renovation of the Organic Chemistry Laboratory in Room 213 of Albertus Hall. Six new chemical fume hoods were installed, their associated duct work, and new climate control systems—bringing

Organic Chemistry Lab Update Mid-term break is normally the time when the campus community pauses to catch its collective breath after eight weeks of academic activity.

Not this October! Dale Haisma, director of physical plant operations, organized a team consisting of Armock Construction, Labconco

this laboratory’s environment up to contemporary standards. The project was advanced and approved by the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Dr. Glenn Barkan in July of this year and budgeted at $150,000.

Save the date S.I. Faculty Subcommittee November 17, 2008 12:20 to 1:20 p.m.

Albertus Hall Student Lounge

Spotlight on . . .

Dr. Richard McCluskey, Associate Professor of Geography, is spending this semester on sabbatical in Olympia, Washington. He is working with Looking Glass Analytics (LGAN), a provider of interactive data management and analysis to federal, state and local governmental organizations, with a specialty in the spatial analysis of social and crime data.

S.I. Advisory Committee April 17, 2009 12:20 to 1:20 p.m.

Albertus Hall, Room 111

Rob Antecki (’07) is busily engaged in his first year of a doctoral program at the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), which focuses on the role of cell, molecular and genetic biology in curing human diseases. Antecki has worked for nearly a year as an assistant research technician in VARI’s Laboratory of Cancer Genetics prior to entering the graduate school. His research interests also extend to factors related to the human aging process.

This Science Initiative Newsletter is distributed in November, March and June

www.aquinas.edu

Volume 1, Issue 1

Science Initiative Advisory Committee Members Co-Chair Robert C. Boguslaski ’62, Ph.D. Co-Chair Thomas Zwier ’76, Ph.D. Director Charles R. Frydrych ’63 Robert Ampulski ’64, Ph.D. David Baumgartner ’79, M.D. Ronald Carlotti ’95, Ph.D. Sandy Cook ’93 Larry Erhardt E. Jane Freer Mark Meijer ’80 Robert Niedzielski ’58, Ph.D. James Resau, Ph.D. Phyllis Saganski ’62 Darrell Thompson ’52 Luis Tomatis, M.D. Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D. Jeroen Wagendorp ’82, Ph.D.

Science Seminar Series Report

Campaign Update

Dr. Beth Jensen, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, has been the driving force behind the reestablishment of a program of regular lectures by visiting scientists known as the Contemporary Science Seminar Series (CS3). Jensen recently summarized the results of the fourth year of the series.

Four CS3 speakers were brought to campus during the 2007-2008 academic year. The Chemistry Department hosted Dr. Joseph Caruso of the University of Cincinnati on October 30 who spoke on “Three Faces of Se—Toxicant, Cancer Chemopreventative and Mercury Antagonist.” Next, biology hosted Dr. Gail Celio of the University of Minnesota Imaging Center on November 5 for her lecture “Fungal Fiends: Mycology & the X-Files.” On January 28, geography hosted Dr. Sara Beth Keough from Saginaw Valley State University who discussed “Cultural Identity and Radio Broadcasting in Newfoundland Canada.” Finally, on February 11, Dr. Christopher Kolda of the University of Notre Dame presented “A New Spin On Unification.”

Since the Science Initiative began in the fall of 2003, it has become the rallying point for the effort to re-invigorate undergraduate science education at Aquinas College. New equipment, enhanced facilities, and stabilizing endowments have all been components of the initiative.

Nearly 1700 students have majored in science since the College moved from downtown Grand Rapids to the Lowe estate on Robinson Road and established itself as a four-year institution.

About 100 of our science alums responded to our first direct appeal to contribute to the Science Initiative in the spring of 2004. Under the leadership of Dr. Bob Boguslaski ’62 and Dr. Tom Zwier ’76, who volunteered to serve as co-chairpersons of the Science Initiative Advisory Committee, our science graduates energized the NSNM Division with their enthusiastic support. More than $600,000 has been pledged to the New Equipment Fund and one half of that total has already been utilized.

The Mohler, Thompson, and Keeler Endowment Funds, valued at over $3,300,000, have been used to support undergraduate science scholarships and summer research programs. These endowments have just begun their third funding year.

Faculty of Natural Science, Nursing and Mathematics Division Thomas Bahl, Ph.D. Robb Bajema, Ph.D. Kathy Bashore Sheri Bertolone Paul Bieneman, Ph.D. Melissa Bouws Karen Burritt Li-Heng Chen, Ph.D. Yashowanto Ghosh, Ph.D. Sr. Katrina Hartman, O.P. ’64, Ph.D. Jennifer Hess, Ph.D. Elizabeth Jensen, Ph.D. Suzanne Keep Eugene Kozminski ’72 Shari Lewis Sr. Ann Mason, O.P. ’61 Richard McCluskey, Ph.D. Michael McDaniel ’72, Ph.D. Jeffrey McKelvey, Ph.D. Summer Silvieus, Ph.D. Joseph Spencer, Ph.D. Sr. Linda M. Thiel, O.P., Ph.D. Robi Thomas, Ph.D.

Some of the 10 Mohler-ThompsonPierce Cedar Creek summer 2008 researchers and their faculty mentors gathered on the steps of Albertus Hall in mid-July.

Front: Molly Soper (Ionic Liquid Crystalline Compounds of Transition Metals with Tetraalkylammonium Ligands), Dr. Jenn Hess, Dr. Mike McDaniel Center: Jane Kraemer (All Chord Diagrams from Wheel Are Self-Invertible) Rear: Ivana Pasalic (Amplifying and Sequencing DNA from Common Garden Plants Utilizing Universal Primers for the Potential Use in DNA Barcoding), Dr. Beth Jensen, Dr. Summer Silvieus, Dr. Robb Bajema, Katie Brandt (Environmental Effects on Zooplankton Cyclomorphosis), and Kyle Flippo (Mutagenesis of the Recombitant Streptococcal IdeZ Protein and the Resulting Functional Effects) Not Pictured: Jackie Plough, Stephanie DeFouw, Marian Testori, Melissa Menerey, Meghan Fish, Dr. Kathy Burgis, Dr. Tom Bahl, and Dr. Paul Bieneman

The Science Initiative Newsletter is produced electronically three times a year as a joint effort of the College’s Natural Science, Nursing and Mathematics (NSNM) Division and the Advancement Department at Aquinas College (www.aquinas.edu) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is distributed to NSNM faculty, advisory committee members, donors and supportors of the Science Initiative (S.I.). Send inquiries, e-mail address changes and comments to the editor, Chuck Frydrych ’63, Director of S.I., (616) 632-2173, frydrcha@aquinas.edu.

To find out how you can help the S.I. by making a donation, contact Greg Meyer, associate vice president for advancement, (616) 632-2802, greg.meyer@aquinas.edu.