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 Invitation to the Class of 1984, and the Friends of Michael Van Rooyen - The MSU Alumni Association and MSU’s Lyman Briggs College are pleased to announce that Michael J. Van Rooyen, MD, MPH, has been selected to receive the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award. Michael, and his wife Julia, will be visiting MSU to receive his award Thursday, October 15, through Saturday, October 17. The Van Rooyen's will be giving a presentation on their work with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and attending the LBC Homecoming tent. Julia will speak on the: "Dynamics of Sexual Violence as Weapons of War: Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Michael will be speaking on: "The Journey from Lyman Briggs College to the Congo: Advancing the Science and Practice of a Humanitarian Response to Violence and War." (09/2009)
If you would like to attend the MSUAA award ceremony on Thursday, October 15, 2009 you can download a copy of the RSVP form (print and return to MSUAA). RSVP >>
Meet LBC Sophomore Patricia Weiss: Life's a Blur When You Combine Competitive Cycling with Being a Full Time Student - Just about a year ago Patricia Weiss, an animal science major at Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College, dusted off her father’s old bicycle and entered the world of competitive cycling. She still remembers how exhausting her first race was. She didn’t do as well as hoped, but instead of being discouraged, Weiss decided that she was going to train harder. She saved up and bought a new OCR2 carbon bicycle and found other women riders who have taught her that cycling isn’t just about endurance, it’s about teamwork and strategy. Committing to a demanding training program is a pretty ambitious goal considering the rigors of her academic program, but Weiss is determined not only to make it work, but to find some way to integrate these two loves into her life. She recently joined Team Giant of Michigan. She says, “It is a pretty serious racing team, so I have some big peddles to fill.” Full story & picture >>> (09/2009)
2009 Fall Welcome & Meet Your College - Unlike the traditional Welcome Week, MSU freshmen arrived on campus on Sunday, August 30, with classes starting on Wednesday, September 2. Lyman Briggs College students enjoyed a day of visiting with faculty, student organizations, and classrooms. Dean Elizabeth Simmons is away on sabattical through November 2009, but students were greeted by Associate/Acting Dean Steven Spees, and Assistant Dean Philip Strong. View the pictures >>> (09/2009)
Dean Elizabeth Simmons and Prof. Sekhar Chivukula - aren't just spouses, they're coworkers. They were recently interviewed by the MSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion. They acknowledge that balancing family responsibilities with faculty responsibilities is never easy. It takes a lot of communications and planning. View the interview >>>
The History of Fermilab: Physics; the Frontier and Megascience - Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois is home to the largest proton accelerator in the United States. Here scientists conduct cutting edge high-energy physics experiments to learn about the ultimate structure of matter and learn more about particles like quarks. How does a megascience facility like this get built? How do you manage a place so big it contains a restored prairie and a herd of buffalo? Is America still on the cutting edge of “big science”? Tonight on Inquiry we talk about the history of Fermilab with LILLIAN HODDESON, Professor of History of Science at the University of Illinois; ADRIENNE W. KOLB, Fermilab Archivist; and CATHERINE WESTFALL, Visiting Associate Professor at Lyman Briggs College. Together they have written one of the great histories of American science: FERMILAB: PHYSICS; THE FRONTIER AND MEGASCIENCE. Radio interview>>> (08/2009)
Meet John Novitsky (1981, Computer Science) - US National Cycling Champion - Speed is what John Novitsky is all about. In his professional career he proudly earned a reputation among computer engineers as a "micro-processor nerd." As an athlete, his passion for speed has led him to the championship podium at the 2008 and 2009 US National Cycling Championships. A competitive cyclist since 2003, his efforts have led him to consecutive US National Championships in the individual time trials for men aged 50-54. UPDATE: John recently won the US National Senior Games (US Senior Olympics ) 10km time trial, and 2nd by 1 second in the 5km time trial. He is now off to Austria to race for a world championship next week. (08/2009) View Story>>>
LBC Mission, Vision, and Objectives - During 2008-09, Lyman Briggs faculty, staff, students and alumni worked together, under the guidance of LBC alumnus Kevin Ohl (1978, Computer Science), to create a mission statement and a guiding vision for the college, along with specific objectives that will lead to realizing the vision. This document now serves the entire LBC community to collectively advance the college mission. The detailed document is available for viewing and provides a great description of current college projects. A HUGE thank you to Kevin Ohl! (08/2009) LBC Mission-Vision-Objectives >>>
MSU 2009 Alumni Distinguished Scholarship winners choose Lyman Briggs College. 2 of the 19 high school seniors awarded this competitive scholarship have chosen to attend LBC in the fall. Vishnu Pemmaraju (Troy) and Robert Harrison (Okemos) are among those selected from more than 1,110 high school seniors from across the country who applied to MSU and took an intensive general knowledge exam. Students in the competition had an average ACT score of 34 (out of 36) and SAT score of 1530 (out of 1600). The scholarships are valued at about $90,000 for in-state students and $150,000 for out-of-state students. (07/2009) More >>>
Recovery act drives MSU research with over $2.1 million in stimulus grants. As part of the federal government’s nearly $800 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more than $15 billion is being awarded to research institutions nationwide by a variety of federal funding agencies. As of today, MSU has received more than $2.1 million in grants. (07/2009)
Recovery.gov website >>>
MSU Stimulus News & Impact website >>>
Assistant Dean, Philip Strong, publishes an essay on College Students and Faculty in the Residential College Environment – An investigation of student development in the designed living-learning environment. The essay examines a widening trend in developing smaller, more personal living-learning environments within large research universities. Dr. Strong has responsibility for undergraduate student and academic affairs. He has a long history of working with students in transition through orientation, freshman seminars, academic advisement, teaching and curriculum development. (07/2009)
More on Dr. Strong >>>
 Briggsie named 2009 Minnesota Family Physician. The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) has named Jennie Orr, MD ('73, Computer Science), Allina Medical Clinic-Hastings as the 2009 Family Physician of the Year. This award is presented annually to a family physician who represents the highest ideals of the specialty of family medicine, including caring, comprehensive medical service, community involvement and service as a role model. Jennie Orr, M.D. Family physicians from across the state were nominated for the award by patients, community members, and colleagues. Four finalists were selected from the field of nominees. After reviewing dozens of nomination letters, the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors chose Dr. Orr as the winner. The award will be presented to her during the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians All-Member Celebration on Thursday, April 16, 2009. The event will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Dr. Orr practices at Allina Medical Clinic - Hastings. She has been a family physician in the community for 28 years. (5/2009)
LBC celebrated its first commencement since the return of college status. 184 graduates were present along with platform guests that included faculty, Provost Kim Wilcox, Hon. Dianne Byrum from the MSU Board of Trustees, the 2009 LBC Distinguished Alumni Award winners, and many other honored guests. Check back with this site for updated commencement photos and information that will be added as they are received. (5/2009)
 Sad news to report - It is with great sadness that we report the death of Lisa M. Weber (2006, Human Biology). At the time of her death Lisa was a 3rd year student in MSU's College of Human Medicine. During her first years at MSU, she volunteered on the university crisis team, and was the student coordinator at the Lansing Friendship Clinic. Lisa is remembered for her enthusiasm and passion to help everyone and make them smile. Dean Simmons and the Briggs community extends their condolences to her friends and family. (08/2009) View obituary>>>
Faculty Conversation with Robert Shelton - Robert Shelton refers to himself as the “eccentric person” among his faculty colleagues in Michigan State University's Lyman Briggs College. About half of LBC's faculty teach the sciences while the other half teach what's known as HPS – history, philosophy and sociology. “However,” Shelton said, “I am neither an H, a P nor an S.” Shelton has an undergraduate degree is in chemistry and English, and his Ph.D. is in English. He teaches, among other things, an introduction to HPS. “Essentially we're teaching students how to ask questions about what it means to understand a problem historically, sociologically and philosophically,” he said. Among Shelton's many areas of interests are late-19th and early-20th century British literature; the philosophy, sociology, and history of science; the American Renaissance; and science fiction and literary utopias.(08/2009) Video >>>
MSU/LBC students are participating in a study abroad in Auckland, New Zealand. Accompanied by Dr. Philip Strong, LBC's Assistant Dean, the group is looking at sustainability policies and practices on the North Island, and also getting some volcanic, Kiwi soil under their fingernails. Students are helping to plant native New Zealand tree species associated with wetland reclamation at a project near Rotorua, as well as visiting a progressive, rotational grazing-based dairy farm and kiwi/avocado orchards. According to MSU professor and Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications, Kirk Heinze, the students are seeing first-hand the extent to which New Zealanders have embraced an ethic of sustainability. (08/2009)
LBC professor James Smith is one of twenty biology educators from around the country and internationally who have successfully completed the Research Residency component of the Biology Scholars Program (BSP), a national interdisciplinary program for biologists committed to improving undergraduate biology education based upon evidence of effective student learning. Sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology and the National Science Federation, BSP Scholars are chosen through a competitive process that identifies teaching excellence and national leadership. (08/2009) More >>>
 Conjuring the real history behind 'Harry Potter's' magic. Author J.K. Rowling's young wizard Harry Potter might be fiction, but the historical basis of his "magic" is not. Mark Waddell, a visiting assistant professor at LBC weaves popular culture such as the "Harry Potter" series into his lectures on science history. He was the historical consultant for the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) traveling exhibition linking J.K. Rowling's magic infused Harry Potter books to real historical beliefs and people. More >>> NLM's Harry Potter's World Web page >>>
 Briggs professor studies the first stars – LBC physics Professor Brian O'Shea and his collaborators, Matthew Turk and Tom Abel of Stanford University, have just published a paper in the journal Science, showing that the first generation of stars could form as twins, not just individuals. They learned this by using simulations which provide the most detailed understanding of the formation of the first generation of stars in the universe to date. The research will appear on the website Science Express on July 9th. Access a video computer simulation of two binary stars forming >>> View copy of paper >>> (07/2009)
MSU Today Story >>>
 Briggsies Bob Bayn ('72) returns to stay in his old Holmes Hall room – this time with his grandchildren. Nobody knows how quickly time flies than Bob Bayn, who recently attended Grandparents University (GPU) with his grandchildren, 12-year-old Tyler and 9-year-old Kaylee. The Bayns were among 820 who participated in GPU, a program that brings grandparents back to MSU and allows them to share their college experience with their grandchildren. Other Briggsies in attendance included David Miller ('77), who attended with his nephew, and the children of Carole Montgomery, MD ('83), Angela Ethridge ('94), and Christopher Bloss, MD, who attended with their grandparents.
State News story on the Bayns' >>>
Grandparents University website >>>
Filmmakers feature LBC senior seminar students' Letter on Sustainability. Working with Briggs Professor Michael Nelson, the students addressed the letter to the Columbia River Quorum, a gathering of sixteen environmental scientists, social scientists, philosophers, communications experts, and creative writers. Sponsored by the Spring Creek Project (Oregon State University) with the support of the US Forest Service, the Quorum seeks to bring science and moral imagination together to communicate about climate destabilization. Originally delivered during the opening comments of the gathering, the filmmakers edited and produced the video. (07/2009 )
View video (large file) >>>More on the Spring Creek Project >>>
MSU 2009 Alumni Distinguished Scholarship winners choose Lyman Briggs College. 2 of the 19 high school seniors awarded this competitive scholarship have chosen to attend LBC in the fall. Vishnu Pemmaraju (Troy) and Robert Harrison (Okemos) are among those selected from more than 1,110 high school seniors from across the country who applied to MSU and took an intensive general knowledge exam. Students in the competition had an average ACT score of 34 (out of 36) and SAT score of 1530 (out of 1600). The scholarships are valued at about $90,000 for in-state students and $150,000 for out-of-state students. (07/2009) More >>>
Recovery act drives MSU research with over $2.1 million in stimulus grants. As part of the federal government’s nearly $800 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more than $15 billion is being awarded to research institutions nationwide by a variety of federal funding agencies. As of today, MSU has received more than $2.1 million in grants. (07/2009)
Recovery.gov website >>>
MSU Stimulus News & Impact website >>>
Assistant Dean, Philip Strong, publishes an essay on College Students and Faculty in the Residential College Environment – An investigation of student development in the designed living-learning environment. The essay examines a widening trend in developing smaller, more personal living-learning environments within large research universities. Dr. Strong has responsibility for undergraduate student and academic affairs. He has a long history of working with students in transition through orientation, freshman seminars, academic advisement, teaching and curriculum development. (07/2009)
More on Dr. Strong >>>
Briggsie named 2009 Minnesota Family Physician. The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) has named Jennie Orr, MD ('73, Computer Science), Allina Medical Clinic-Hastings as the 2009 Family Physician of the Year. This award is presented annually to a family physician who represents the highest ideals of the specialty of family medicine, including caring, comprehensive medical service, community involvement and service as a role model. Jennie Orr, M.D. Family physicians from across the state were nominated for the award by patients, community members, and colleagues. Four finalists were selected from the field of nominees. After reviewing dozens of nomination letters, the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors chose Dr. Orr as the winner. The award will be presented to her during the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians All-Member Celebration on Thursday, April 16, 2009. The event will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Dr. Orr practices at Allina Medical Clinic - Hastings. She has been a family physician in the community for 28 years. (5/2009)
LBC celebrated its first commencement since the return of college status. 184 graduates were present along with platform guests that included faculty, Provost Kim Wilcox, Hon. Dianne Byrum from the MSU Board of Trustees, the 2009 LBC Distinguished Alumni Award winners, and many other honored guests. Check back with this site for updated commencement photos and information that will be added as they are received. (5/2009)
Study Abroad - A life-changing educational experience. "Studying environmental policy in Greece and Turkey has been a life-changing experience," says Michael Berkowitz, a LBC senior majoring in HPS (History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science). "My Briggsiness serves me well in my visit to various Mediterranean universities to hear lectures from professors, researchers, and marine biologists. My academic thirst for HPS material has been quelled through my opportunity to explore the philosophy of science, as well as science policy, with James Madison students and professors. We've even had an opportunity to study historical Greek philosophy, science, and mythology. Although our focus has been academic, I've had a great time making genuine friendships with other students and professors on the trip." LBC Assistant Professor Cheryl Murphy, who shares an appointment with Fisheries and Wildlife and is accompanying the group of MSU students says, "This is ideal for Lyman Briggs students because it combines science, policy and philosophy. We explore fisheries and environmental science in the birthplace of the discovery of nature." (June 2009) More on Study Abroad with LBC >>>
Meet Steve Manz - This 2004 Briggs Zoology major and Honors College graduate is a 2012 Olympics hopeful. Since graduation Steve has been pursuing his dream of competing in the Olympics, which will be held in London. Steve was a three-time All-American in shot put and discus during his MSU career and was a finalist at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Steve is now traveling the world to compete against the best. He is presently training at Ashland University in Ohio. (June 2009) View Steve's website: Steve Manz >>>
Meet Beth Conover - This 1976 Briggsie is a board certified genetic counselor and pediatric nurse practitioner at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She practices primarily in General Genetics Clinic, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Clinic, and Autism Clinic. Beth also directs the Nebraska teratology Information Service which provides patients and health care providers with information on which medications are safe to use in pregnant and breast-feeding women. (June 2009) View the E-newsletter with the story on Beth >>>
Meet Ed Stielstra - This 1993 Briggsie and his wife, Tasha, Own and operate a dog sled touring business and racing kennel in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Born and raised in Ludington, after graduating from Lyman Briggs, Ed moved to the U.P. in search of "space and snow." He began mushing in 1991 and soon became interested in running Iditarod. He owns and operates Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Adventures in McMillan, MI. In 2008, Ed led 15 finishers to win the U.P. 200 sled dog race. This past March Ed finished 32nd in the 2009 Iditarod, which has placed him first among competitors from the lower 48 states. Nature's Kennel offers dog sled tours through the U.P. in the winter months. (June 2009) Nature's Kennel website >>>
LBC Sophomore Molly White, leads MSU's Equestrian Team to National Titles. MSU finished in sixth place over all in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Horse Show in Murfreesboro, Tenn. MSU animal science sophomore Shelby Piechorowski, beat out a field of 18 of the country's top riders to earn the national championship title in the individual intermediate equitation on the flat division. The MSU Equestrian Team is a self-funded student activity. Team members must pay for all the costs associated with the judging experience, including entry fees, transportation, lodging and meals, and for the coach. Fundraising events are conducted throughout the year, and team members pay for the balance out of their own pockets. View Michigan Farmer story >>>
Should environmental scientists be advocates for environmental policy? "Scientists, by virtue of being citizens first and scientists second, have a responsibility to advocate to the best of their abilities and in a justified and transparent manner," say John A. Vucetich, population biologist in Michigan Tech's School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and Michael P. Nelson, environmental ethicist jointly appointed in the Lyman Briggs College, the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Department of Philosophy at MSU. These MSU scientists were among scores of college and university researchers who urged Michigan's congressional delegation this week to support strong federal policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
LBC Medical Historian John Waller, interviewed by Claudia Hammond of the BBC Health Check. Waller discusses the strange case of the dancing plague which struck Strasbourg in the 16th century and its modern day equivalents of psychogenic illness and hysteria. The interview springs from Waller's book, A Time to Dance, A Time to Die, which reveals how people from the Medieval German city danced themselves to death. Listen to the interview (begins at the 17:30 min. point of the interview) >>>
Dr. Robert T. Pennock receives the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes noteworthy service to the biological sciences. Dr. Pennock is on the faculty of MSU's Lyman Briggs College, the Philosophy Department, and the Department of Computer Science, as well as the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences and the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior graduate program. His research interests include the philosophy of biology and the relationship of epistemic and ethical values in science. He is the author of Tower of Babel: The Evidence Against the New Creationism and Intelligent Design Creationism and Its Critics: Philosophical, Theological, and Scientific Perspectives. He testified in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District federal court case that found that intelligent design is no different than creationism and should not be taught in science classes. Pennock serves on numerous advisory boards and committees and is the chair of the Education Committee of the Society for the Study of Evolution and is currently working on a book examining how Darwinian evolution, as an abstract theoretical model, can be applied practically beyond biology. (05/2009) AIBS Press Release >>>
New from the Briggs archives: A "Third Culture" College. From the March/April 1982 edition of The Center Magazine (no longer publishing). Contains an insightful interview with then Dean Michael J. Harrison. Read the article >>> (5/2009)
Three LBC students were among just 15 MSU students honored for their academic achievements by the MSU Board of Trustees. Board of Trustees Scholarship Awards are granted at each commencement to graduating seniors having the highest cumulative grade point averages at the close of the semester prior to graduation. All of this year’s recipients have a 4.0 GPA. Amanda Harris, of Wildwood, Mo., a LBC biology major and a Spanish major in the College of Arts and Letters. The daughter of Peter and Nina Harris, she is a member of the Honors College and graduated from Lafayette High School, Ballwin, Mo. Alicia Kramer, of Oxford, a LBC physiology major. She is the daughter of James and Denise Kramer. A member of the Honors College, Kramer is a graduate of Oxford High School. Amanda Leach, of Davisburg, a LBC nutritional sciences major. A member of the Honors College, she is a graduate of Clarkston High School. Congratulations! (4/2009) Full Story >>>
 Commander of U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) in Egypt and 1983 LBC Graduate, Captain Kenneth Earhart to Speak at LBC 2009 Spring Commencement. Capt. Earhart has pursued an academic and military career that has made a global impact on public health. He has been referred to as a ‘Medical Diplomat' because of his work with the public health infrastructures of resource-limited nations. NAMRU-3 is a highly visible U.S. medical research unit whose primary mission is to put public health in more than 40 countries in the most politically important and sensitive region of the world. Capt. Earhart's expertise is sought by organizations such as the CDC, NIH, USDA, WHO, and the FDA. He is a distinguished emissary for the United States who embodies the founding principles of Lyman Briggs College of providing excellence in education in science in the context of society. Captain Earhart will also receive a LBC 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award (see story below). Read the full story >>> (3/2009)
LBC has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the NSF Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program. Briggs will work with the MSU Office of Financial Aid to administer 3 year scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $9,000 to LBC majors. Recipients will also be required to participate in regularly scheduled activities providing a wide-ranging introduction to opportunities in science. These will include the participation of Briggs alumni through seminars, mentoring and internship opportunities. Since 2000, Michigan researchers brougn in more than $1.3 billion in NSF Funding into the state. MSUToday Story >>> (3/2009)
LBC Names Winners of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award
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Dr. Cindy Morris (1979, Biology) is Director of the Plant Pathology Unit of the
French Government Agricultural Research Agency in Avignon, France. Her work
contributes to the development of effective and environmentally friendly disease
control that supports production of high quality fruits and vegetables.
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Dr. M. Teresa (Tess) Tavormina (1973, Mathematics) is an accomplished
scholar,teacher, administrator and author who has seamlessly bridged her
mathematics and interdisciplinary science background with advanced degrees
in the humanities. She has made a significant contribution to the study of
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Captain Kenneth Earhart (1983, Biology) is the Commander of the U.S. Naval
Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) which is based in Cairo, Egypt.
NAMRU-3 conducts infectious disease research and public health capacity
building directed at understanding emerging infectious diseases. Read More >>> |
R. Stephen Berry to speak at Science & Liberal Education, a seminar on the 50th anniversary of C.P. Snow's lecture. Dr. Berry is James Franck Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago. His research interests include the study of proteins, how they fold, interact and attach to other molecules. In May 1959, C.P. Snow delivered his famous Rede Lecture at Cambridge University lamenting the cultural divide between the sciences and the humanities. On the 50th anniversary of that seminal lecture, scientists and scholars, including LBC's own Professor Robert Pennock, will gather to consider the state of their mutual relations. How far have we come towards the promise of a third culture? What remains to be done? This event is hosted by The International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy and sponsored in part by a grant from LBC. You can visit the conference site at: Snow Conference. This is an updated story. Due to illness Noble Physics Laureate, Leon Lederman is unable to attend. (5/2009)
Animals: Past, Present, and Future was organized by LBC professor Georgina Montgomery and was the first conference MSU has hosted in the emerging field of animal studies, which examines the relationships between humans and animals through an interdisciplinary lens. (MSU: Mark Kornbluh). The conference brought scholars from many countries to East Lansing. The keynote speaker was Harriet Ritvo, a professor of history from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who spoke on "The call of the Wild: Reflections on our Species among Others. More on the conference >>> More on Dr. Montgomery >>> More on Dr. Ritvo >>> (4/2009)
LBC students participate in MSU's 11th annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF). Held every spring, the Forum brings together a community of highly motivated students to share their work with faculty and peers. This year over 600 students and 260 faculty mentors from 14 of MSU's colleges participated making this the largest student research forum in MSU's history. See list of LBC award winners, student comments, and photos of the event >>> (4/2009)
LBC summer 2009 undergraduate research winners announced: Jayme L. Olsen, LBC Microbiology major Jayme will be working with Professor Douglas B. Luckie, Lyman Briggs College and the Dept. of Physiology, on a project entitled “Multi-plex PCR Assay to Detect for Cycstic Fibrosis Mutations”. Alexandra G. Collins-Webb, LBC Biology major. Alexandra will be working with Lyman Briggs professor Ryan Sweeder on a project entitled Qualitative Analysis of (General Chemistry) Factors Impacting Performance in Organic Chemistry. (4/2009)
LBC zoology junior Julia Smith, awarded scholarship from the Michigan Environmental Laboratory Association. Smith received the Bryce McHale Memorial Scholarship award that was established in honor of a former MELA member. This annual scholarship benefits an outstanding undergraduate student at MSU who are entering their junior or senior year, with a concentration in science and a demonstrated interest in a field of study that would benefit MELA member industries. more >>> (3/2009)
Evan Pratt, a LBC Biochemistry senior has won grant funding from the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) 2009 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. The goal of the SURF program is to provide opportunities for students to pursue meaningful research in plant biology early in their college years. The program targets students who have just completed their sophomore year of their undergraduate studies. Pratt won for the project entitled Characterization of Novel Chloroplast Transporter in the C4 Plant Maize. Pratt will be mentored by Susanne Hoffmann-Benning, an assistant professor in MSU's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. About the ASPB SURF >>> (3/2009)
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Michael Nelson (LBC; Fisheries and Wildlife; and Philosophy) is among a group of scientists from Michigan Technological University (MTU) and MSU who have published an article on the effects of inbreeding on the Isle Royale wolf populations. Isle Royale wolves suffer from backbone malformation that can result in pain, partial paralysis, and inhibited locomotion. Typically the island has just 24 wolves that live in three packs. The article discusses the problem and raises questions about whether or not humans should genetically come to the rescue of the population. For more information on the ethical questions surrounding this issue and an opportunity to make a comment visit: Isle Royale Wolf. (3/2009)
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Charlie with companion Heather Varco and the students of LB133. |
Students in LB 133 are exploring the history of animal behavior studies. They read “'Infinite Loneliness: The Life and Times of Miss Congo, written by LBC's Dr. Georgina M. Montgomery and currently under-review for publication in the popular journal Endeavour. It chronicles the places and practices used by psychobiologist Robert Yerkes to study the intelligence of a mountain gorilla called Congo. Between 1926 and 1928, Yerkes conducted experiments in a private estate and in a circus to determine Congo's intelligence. Unable to bring a gorilla into the classroom, Dr. Montgomery did the next best thing. Heather Varco, a local dog trainer, brought her dog Charlie into the class for an IQ test. With the help of stopwatches, a towel, and several dog treats, students experimentally demonstrated that Charlie is a genius! (03/2009) |
Animals: Past, Present, and Future. LBC professor Georgina Montgomery has organized a conference that will explore past, present, and future human-animal relationships from interdisciplinary and international perspective. The keynote speaker is Harriet Ritvo, Department of History, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is scheduled April 16-18, 2009. Speakers from both the humanities and sciences will present research concerning issues such as animal husbandry, pet keeping, animal experimentation, environmental ethics, and anthropomorphism. For conference information visit: Animals: Past, Present and Future>>> (01/2009)
Eric Shyu, an Illinois high schooler working under the auspices of MSU's High School Honors Science Program, worked with LBC Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Robert LaDucaon a project preparing novel cadmium/organic hybrid coordination polymers during the summer of 2008. One of Eric's new compounds, [Cd(phthalate)(dipyridylamine)].4H2O, had a unique, complex, and elegant molecular structure composed of interlocked double and single helices. The structure is a rare example of a self-catenated network, where a single molecular network essentially weaves through itself. Shyu's and LaDuca's co-authored paper, entitled "A Chiral Luminescent Coordination Polymer Featuring a Unique 4-Connected Self-Catenated Topology Built from Helical Motifs", will be appearing in an upcoming issue of the journal Inorganic Chemistry. This periodical is published by the American Chemical Society and is the highest-ranked inorganic chemistry journal in the world. The journal editorial staff has considered this work one of the four "hottest" in-press articles, and features the work at position #1 in a graphical slide show on the journal's official website. Eric is also an Intel Finalist and recently joined a group of students to be honored with a visit to the White House and photo with President Obama (2nd row, 5th from the left). Photo >>> View the Abstract >>> (03/2009)
Michael Nelson (LBC; Fisheries and Wildlife; and Philosophy) has an essay in the March issue of The Ecologist in which he argues that giving people hope for the health of our planet might keep them from taking real action to build a sustainable future. Nelson and co-author John Vucetich of Michigan Tech say that hope as a motivator is based on speculation about the future, and that we instead ought to be concerned with how to act virtuously now, regardless of what might lie ahead. “If we’re left with despair or hope, neither of which actually seem to be a motivator to do anything, we need another motivator,” Nelson said. “So we started thinking that this is really about doing the right thing, quite apart from whether it’s hopeful or not. This is about the decision to be a certain kind of person.” Video interview >>> (3/2009)
On the 50th Anniversary of C.P. Snow's challenge to educators, LBC is noted for its commitment to excellence in the study of science and society - Despite frequent warnings of the inadequacy of education in the United States, citizens here are still among the world's most scientifically literate..." So reads the article "College science requirements keep US ahead of World" as it appears in ScienceBlog.com. Briggs Professor Robert T. Pennock, a noted science advocate is quoted in the article saying, "We really believe that our students will be better scientists to the extent that they also become fluent in the humanities." Dean Elizabeth Simmons is also quoted, "Our courses in science and mathematics not only introduce the topics and methods of a particular field, but also demonstrate the interrelation of the various scientific disciplines: how chemical principles underpin biological processes, how mathematical models can make sense of physical behaviors. Read the article >>>
LBC students take part in a national video to wish Charles Darwin a Happy 200th Birthday. Check out the video >>> (02/2009)
Science Magazine has published an article co-authored by Professor James Smith called, Sympatric Speciation Cascades across Trophic Levels. Science 323:776-779. According to the press release: Characterization of the underlying basis of earth’s biodiversity, both with respect to defining conditions that are conducive to the formation of new species, and describing mechanisms involved in the speciation process itself, has remained elusive. A new paper in Science (2009) by Andrew Forbes and his colleagues at the University of Notre Dame, the University of Florida, and Michigan State University, shows how diversity itself can be a major generator of diversity. As new species form, they create new ecological opportunities for others to exploit, which, in turn, can lead to ever more new species. (02/2009)
Two Briggs faculty honored by MSU with teaching awards
Professor Aaron McCright has received MSU's Teacher-Scholar Award - present to those who have earned the respect of students and colleagues for their devotion and skill in teaching. He was cited for his dedication to helping natural science students appreciate the social context of their chosen disciplines and his nationally recognized scholarship on the sociology of science. The award provides recognition to the best teachers who have served at MSU for seven years or less. McCright is the sixth LBC faculty member to receive this award since it was first given in 1969, and the fifth LBC faculty member since 2000. Text of McCright's award >>>
Alison Reiheld has been presented with the Excellence in Teaching Citation. Reiheld was awarded for her dedication to helping her students see the relevance of academics to real and pressing issues in modern science and medicine. Her classes are wonderfully interactive and superbly crafted. Reiheld teaches in the HPS program. The award recognizes her teaching in the area of philosophy. Text of Reiheld's award >>> (02/2009)
Animals: Past, Present, and Future. LBC professor Georgina Montgomery has organized a conference that will explore past, present, and future human-animal relationships from interdisciplinary and international perspective. The keynote speaker is Harriet Ritvo, Department of History, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is scheduled April 16-18, 2009. Speakers from both the humanities and sciences will present research concerning issues such as animal husbandry, pet keeping, animal experimentation, environmental ethics, and anthropomorphism. For conference information visit: Animals: Past, Present and Future>>> (01/2009)
Professor Michael Nelson is busy schedule sharing his research on environmental issues. Dr. Nelson has recently concluded a tour promoting his book The Great New Wilderness Debate. The March issue of The Ecologist will include an article written with MTU colleague John Vucetich, tentatively entitled "How Hope Destroys our Love for Nature." He has contributed to several other articles about to be published. "On Advocacy by Environmental Scientists: What, Whether, Why, and How," will appear in the forthcoming Conservation Biology. It is a systematic review of reasons why some favor and others oppose advocacy by environmental scientists. "Can We have our Animal Rights and Eat them Too" will be in The Wildlife Professional. This essay focuses on what is required to properly engage in a conversation about the ethics of hunting; making a case that animal welfare ethicists and hunters may not really be at odds with one another as much as they think. Dr. Nelson can be viewed on a PBS recorded teach-in on global warming. View Ethical and Justice Issues of Climate Change >> (02/2009)
Professor Kendra Cheruvelil becomes latest Briggs faculty to be named Lilly Teaching Fellow. The MSU Lilly Teaching Fellow Program provides a diverse group of tenure-stream faculty with the opportunity to enhance their teaching abilities through series of activities. The program encourages teaching fellows to become future faculty leaders and models for their peers. Dr. Cheruvelil joins recent LBC Lilly Fellows Cori Fata-Hartley and Aaron McCright, and past Fellow Doug Luckie. More info on Dr. Cheruvelil >> (02/2009)
The MSU Chapter of the Mortar Board won first place in the National Mortar Board YouTube recruitment video contest. Briggs advisor Gwen Deutsch, serves as adviser to the group that is made up of MSU seniors who focus on community service and literacy. View the video >>> (02/2009)
Briggs students join Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero at the State of the City address. Mayor Bernero acknowledge these students for being a part of the good things happening in Lansing. Using the theme: Lansing Leading the Way, the mayor spoke about the importance to the region of the F-RIB (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams) that is coming to MSU. The Briggs students were active in the student promotion of the facility during the site visit. F-RIB will be responsible for $1 billion and bring thousands of high-tech jobs to Michigan.(1/2009)
Briggs alumni Steven Plato (`06, Physiology), featured in a The State News story - Steven is a second year student in the College of Human Medicine. He is using both his Spanish language skills and his religious faith to serve at a clinic in Grand Rapids. The Health Intervention Services, or HIS, serves the uninsured working poor. View the video >> (1/2009)
Lyman Briggs College celebrates the 50th Anniversary of C.P. Snow's lecture: The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. These lectures played a major role in the envisioning of Lyman Briggs College as a new venture in education where science would be studied in the context of society. Lyman Briggs College enjoys a citation in Wikipedia's entry on Snow. The Origin and First Six Years of Lyman Briggs College 1967 to 1973 (Frederic Dutton & Jane Elliott, 1982), the establishment of a new course during the winter term of 1967, entitled Third Culture Rhetoric. Dr. Jerry West of the Department of American Thought and Language presented a proposal for a basic required English course to the LBC Planning Committee. Dr West's new course was based on Snow's lecture-essays in which he argued "...literary intellectuals and sciences belonged to such different "cultures" that they could not communicate and therefore needed a "third culture" to act as a mediator." This responded to the immediate concern of the 'two cultures' Over time the issues have broadened to what is now include the History, Philosophy and Sociology of science - HPS curriculum.
As Dean Elizabeth Simmons Describes it, "Lyman Briggs College is devoted to bridging the divide between what C.P. Snow famously called the two “cultures” of the sciences and the humanities by providing students a strong education in scientific and mathematical fields within their social, historical, and philosophical context. Our courses in science and mathematics not only introduce the topics and methods of a particular field, but also demonstrate the inter-relation of the various scientific disciplines: how chemical principles underpin biological processes, how mathematical models can make sense of physical behaviors. At the same time, our courses in the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of science draw students into analyzing the way scientists think about questions in their own disciplines, and how academics from other fields evaluate the methods and conclusions of science. As a whole, our curriculum helps students understand the nature of scientific reasoning, evidence, and knowledge.
Briggs professor Robert Pennock speaks at Cornell University's celebration of the double anniversary of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday and 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species. Dr. Pennock's talk "But Is It Science?: The Philosophical Question in the Creation/Evolution Controversy, initiated this month-long event. Dr. Pennock also gave a second talk geared toward students interested in biology, computer science, mathematics and science education. Dr. Pennock is the author of Tower of Babel: The Evidence Against the New Creationism and Intelligent Design Creationism and Its Critics. (01/2009)
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