January 2011 Volume 9, Issue 5 BioMass

Upcoming Seminars Mondays

4:00 PM

RNS 410 ________________

Feb 7

Biology in South India study abroad program

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Feb 14

Island Biology in the Bahamas interim course

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Feb 21

Peruvian Medical Experience and Equatorial Biology interim courses

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Feb 28

Dr. Kurt Thoroughman

Assoc. Prof Biomedical Engineering, Wash U

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SemesterAbroad:BiologyinSouthIndiaKatie Kubat ‘12, Matthew Lefebvre ‘12, John Hartzheim ‘11, Paul Ranum ‘11, Leah Anderson ‘12 BiologyinSouthIndiaisasemesterlongprogramwherestudentsfromSt.OlafstudyandlearnaboutthediversecultureofIndiaandcarryouttwoindependentresearchprojects.TheresearchprojectsarecarriedoutundertheaidandsupervisionoftheSchieffelinInstituteofHealth‐Research&LeprosyCentre,PalniHillConservationCouncil,MudumalaiWildlifeSanctuary,andtheVectorControlResearchCentre.Eachdaybroughtanewchallengetothefiveofus,whetherfiguringoutthepostalsystemortryingtocommunicatewiththepeoplearoundus.Yet,eachofuslearnedagreatdealaboutlifeinIndiaandgrewimmenselyaspeoplethroughoutourfour‐monthjourneyinIndia.

ThefirstmonthofourprogramreallyfocusedonlearningabouttheIndianculture.WestayedattheInter‐ChurchServiceAssociationinChennai,oneofthelargestcitiesinIndia,andtookdailyfieldtripsthatcorrespondedtoeachsubjectwewerestudying.WelearnedofIndia’smanyreligions,socialissues,andenvironmentalproblemsandhadachancetoaskquestionsandgainabetterunderstandingoftheirculture.WealsolearnedthebasicsoflivinginIndia,fromwhatkindoffoodwassafetoeattohowtobuyatrainorbusticket,whichturnedouttobequiteachallenge.

Afterlivinginanoisyyetvibrantcityforamonth,wemovedtotheoutskirtsofChennaiforaruralorientationattheChristianCouncilforRuralDevelopmentandResearch(CCOORR).CCOORRisanon‐governmentvolunteerorganizationthatfocusesonimprovingthelivesoftheneglectedpeopleofsociety.Throughtheirorganization,wehadtheopportunitytovisitvariousgovernmentalofficesandspendagreatdealoftimewiththelocalvillage.Duringthedaywespokewithvillageleadersaboutissuesfacingtheirpeopleandintheeveningswedancedandplayedvolleyballwiththevillagechildren,whowereincrediblyfriendlyandwelcoming.NomatterContinued

TheSt.OlafBiologyDepartmentnewsletter

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wherewewent,wewerealwayswelcomedandtreatedwithsuchincredibleamountsofkindnessthatitwashardtoleave.

Theresearchaspectofourprogrambroughtthesamehospitality.Eachorganizationwentoutofitswaytohelpussetupandrunourstudies.Fortheirfirstresearchproject,John,PaulandLeahworkedcloselywiththeSchieffelinInstituteatKarigiri,whichoncecateredexclusivelytoleprosypatientsbutnowservesasageneralhospitalinarurallocationinIndia.Theinstitutionfocusesonhealthcareresearch,especiallyleprosyresearchandservesasanincredibleexampleofthemodernizationofhealthcareinaruralsetting.Meanwhile,KatieandMattwerestationedinthemountainsinKodaikanalandworkedwiththePalniHillsConservationCouncil.PHCCisanorganizationdevotedtopromotingsustainabledevelopment.Recentlytheyhaveshiftedtheirfocustowardscoastalrestorationofthreatenedmangroveecosystemsdamagedduringthe2004tsunami,buttheyremainadynamicforceintheKodaiarea.TheymaintainanumberofnurseriesdevotedtogrowingnativeforestandgrasslandplantswhicharebeingusedtorestoredegradedareasaroundKodai.

“ThefreedomthattheBiologyinSouthIndiaprogramofferedallowedustoimmerseourselvesinavibrantandwhollyuniqueculturethatisIndia.Wewerenotheldbackbytourguides,largegroupsandthelogisticalproblemstheyimply.”

Betweenprojects,wehadtheopportunitytotravelaroundthebeautifulandwide‐rangingcountryofIndia.John,PaulandLeahspenttheir10daystrekkingthroughtheHimalayasandvisitingtheTajMahalalongwiththebustlingcityofNewDelhi.MattandKatietookamorescenicrouteupnorth,stoppingintheEuropeantouristhotspotofGoa,visitingMumbaialongwithPresidentObama,touringtheTaj,andfinally,trekkingthroughtheRajasthandesertoncamels.Bothgroupshadanamazingexperiencetravelingbytrainsandmetsomeincrediblepeoplealongtheway.

Wewrappedupourprogrambycompletinganotherfive‐weekresearchproject.Paul,KatieandLeahworkedalongsidetheVectorControlResearchCentreinPondicherrystudyingtopicsrangingfrommosquitoinfectionscreeningandbreedingcontroltomalarialtreatments.Meanwhile,MattandJohncarriedoutprojectswiththeMudumalaiWildlifeSanctuaryinconjunctionwiththeIndianInstituteofScienceinBangalore.TheirprojectsfocusedontherelationshipbetweensexhormonesandstresshormonesinsemicaptivemaleAsianelephantsaswellasextractingDNAfromelephantdungsamples.

ThefreedomthattheBiologyinSouthIndiaprogramofferedallowedustoimmerseourselvesinavibrantandwhollyuniqueculturethatisIndia.Wewerenotheldbackbytourguides,largegroupsandthelogisticalproblemstheyimply.Duringthisprogram,thefiveofuswereabletobreakawayfromourrolesastouristsandinteractwithslumdwellers,streetvendors,tribalIndiansandvillagechildren.Personalinteractionsmadethistripanunforgettableexperiencethathaschangedourperceptionsofourownlivesandoftheworld.ForSt.Olafbiologystudents,thisisavaluableexperienceforbothfuturecareersinscienceandashumanbeingslivinginanincreasinglyglobalizedworld.Theneedtounderstandmultipleperspectivesandrespectdifferingvaluesreachesintoeveryaspectoflife,andisanindispensablecomponentofaSt.Olafeducation.

HelloMatesAblogfrom“TheTravelsofNicholasKang”by Nick Kang ‘12

NickKangwrotethisbloginFebruaryayearagowhileontheEnvironmentalScienceinAustraliasemesterabroadprogram.TheURLforhisblogistravelkang@wordpress.com.

February11,2010AfterflyingintoMelbourne,Australiajustaweekpriortotoday,Iamoverwhelmedfromthenewexperiencewhichhassmotheredmewithawholenewculture,language,architecture,climate,andbiologicaldiversity.Tobehonest,Ihaveverylittletosay,otherthanthegroupofstudentsIamwith,oursupervisors,andourlocationhasfarexceededanyexpectations.Ourtimehasbeenalifechangingexperiencewhetherithasbeenlisteningtoguestlecturers,partakinginexcursions,orgettingtoknowoneanotheroveragameofcardsatnight.

Belowarejustafewphotosthathopefullybegintocaptureitall.

ThisAustralianbirdcanmimicsoundsinitsenvironment.Thislittlefellowwasfoundinanearbygumtree.

MyfellowstudentsgazeuponthebeautyofAustralia.Itdoesn’tgetmuchbetterthanthis.

WehavetwomoredaysofclasseshereinMelbournebeforewemakeourwaysouthtowardsWilson’sProm.HereatWilson’sPromwewillbedoingoursnorkleintemperatesaltwatercommencingthestartofourMarineBiologycourse.Sofarwehavebeenintroducedtoourfirstthreeclasses:terrestrialecology,environmentalpolicy,andculturalanthropology—allofwhichhavebeenincrediblyexciting.Imustbeoff.CheersfromAustralia.

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GlobalHealthandServiceLearninginTanzaniaby Cary Schlick ‘11 and Angie Volkert ‘11 Thispastsummer,ProfessorDaveVanWylenledus,CarySchlickandAngieVolkert,alongwithGregCarlson,SarahMorrison,andJacobReinhartonafour‐weekglobalhealthandservicelearningtriptoTanzania.WetraveledwithanOlealumnuswhoisaninfectiousdiseaseandtropicalmedicinespecialist,BillStauffer,M.D.Thefocusofthetripwastoexploreourownmedically‐basedvocationsinthecontextofadevelopingnation.Ourvisitencompassedmultipleexperiencesincludingshadowinginhospitalsettings,workingwithahospiceprogram,volunteeringataschool,visitingamedicalschool,buildingawatercollectionsystem,andplayingwithchildrenrecoveringfromorthopedicsurgeries.Throughouttheexperience,webegantounderstandthechallengesofprovidingquality,cost‐effectivemedicalcareinsub‐SaharaAfrica.Throughouttheprocess,weintertwinedpublichealthinitiativeswithmedicalcareinanattempttoaddressthegreatersocialstructuresaffectingindividual’spathologies.Poorwaterqualityandlackofaccesstocleanwater,inadequatesanitationinfrastructure,andgenerallackofmedicalresources—fromantiretroviralstovitamins—hinderindividualsfromreachingpeakpotentialinaworldwithlimitedjobopportunitiesoutsideofbasicfarmingpractices.Itwasheartbreakingtoseeindividualssufferingfromillhealthcausedbywhatoursocietyconsiderstobeeasilycurableailments.DuringourtimeinTanzania,weworkedwithphysiciansandnursesinbothruralandurbansettings,addressingthecommonailmentsaffectingtheMasaaipeople.Inadditiontolearningaboutthespecificillnesses,wedevelopedanunderstandingoftheimportanceofculturalrespectwhenimplementingglobalprojects.Whileshadowinginthehospitalswesawmanypatientswhochosetopursuetraditionalhealingpracticespriortoseekingphysicians’help.Thehealerscutmultipleparallellinesinstrategicplacestoalloweviltoleavethebody.Althoughthehealer’swork,oftenhavingbecomeinfected,mostlikelycausedmoreharmthanbenefittotheoverallpatients’wellbeing,thephysiciansremindedusthatthispracticeisseenasspirituallybeneficialandsurpassesthecapabilitiesofmodernmedicineintheeyesoftheMasaai.Thiswasjustoneexampleofhowmedicalprofessionalscannotapplyourpreferredmedicaltechniquestodifferentcultureswithoutconsideringtheirperspectives.Continued

Wewalkedawayfromthisexperiencerecognizingourprivilegeandarepassionateaboutusingittobenefitsufferingindividuals,liketheTanzanianswemet,inourfuturemedicalcareers.Furthermore,welearnedtheinterdependenceofpublichealthandmedicalpracticeinordertocreateahealthysociety.Thus,webothareexcitedtoapplytheknowledgegainedthroughthisexperiencetoourfuturemedicalpractices.

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TheWinterFaceby Jamie Mosel ‘12

Forstudentsabroad,andstudentsoncampus,theinterimoffersanopportunitytounwind,collect,andrecharge.Thefourweeksbetweenwinterbreakandthestartofthespringsemesterpassquickly,buttheyareoftenfilledwithnewexperiences,andnewwaysofthinking.Sciencemajorsmightappreciatethechancetoconversewiththehumanities,andstrengthentheirownunderstandingthroughnewlenses.Othersmightappreciatethetimetotestthewatersofanotherfield,fulfillgeneraleducationrequirements,orsimplytofocus.St.Olafstudentsareaccustomedtohardwork,andcarefulmanagementoftheirhours.Duringtheinterim,formoststudentsthereissuddenlyandrefreshinglyareprieve.ThefrigidmonthofJanuarythuscomesasawelcomestepbackfromthebusydemandsofthesemester,andabreathoffreshair.Oneoftheparticularadvantagesofstayingoncampus,however,istheopportunitytoexplore,andtotakeclosernoticeoftheworldasitisaroundus.IusedthisopportunitytovisitNerstrandBig‐WoodsStateParkinanewlight.Ihavebeentherebefore,inspringandfallandwishedtoseeitsfaceinwinter.Therearesmallfallslessthanahalfmilehikefromthestation,theHiddenFalls.Inwarmerweather,thestreamcascadeslikeacurtainoveralimestonewall.Thesandstoneunderneatherodesaway,eventuallydegradingtheintegrityofthelimestoneaboveit,untilitbreaksofftoformaverticalcut.LiketheMinnehahafallsinMinneapolis,theyarefrozen,butwatercontinuestomoveunderneath.Besidesthistrail,thenorthernsectionoftheparkisclosedtohikers‐‐thetrailshavebeengroomedforskiers.Thesouthernsection,meanwhile,isgroomedforsnowmobilesandmakesasmoothpathforthoseonfoot.Itwasinthelowerteens,perhaps10degreeswhenIembarked,andalthoughIworemanylayers,thecoldremainedwithmeafterwards.Thetrees,manyofthemtallandlong‐standing,werelikespearsinthesnow.Iwentjustaftermidday,andsoappreciatedthesunhanginginitsdescendinggait,peekingthroughtheboughsatmyprogress.Theshadowsspreadfar,andfollowedthecontoursoftheirwhitecanvas.Thesnowwaslaidoutlikeathickunbrokenblanket,rolling,andsmoothingtheforestfloor.Numerouslinesofanimaltracksdottedacrossitssurface‐‐squirrels,itwouldseem,deer,andfox(judgingbydroppings).Thesnowbetrayedtheirpaths,andIoftenstoopedtowonderattheirgoals.AsIwalked,Ifoundmanysmall,shelterednichesbeneathfallentrees,withscantdirtpatches,andoftentheremainsofacorns.Forlongstretches,deertrackswoveinlonelystrings,andyetatotherplaceslitteredthesnowwithdensepatchesofprintsasofmanyfeet.Isawonlyonedeerinperson,adarkgrayishsort,andweightyasitboundedawayontheothersideofafenceoftrunks.Ialsosawalargewoodpecker,highupandthuddingawayonthepalelengthofatree.Itwasquiet,andthesoundofitsworkechoed,andrespondeddeepintothewoods.Thecrunchofthesnowwasloudundermyboots,butshouldIstop,Icouldhearthetrickleofastream,orthecrackofboughsabove.There wasonepairofsnowmobilersabout.Iencounteredthemonce,andthechallengeoftheirmotorsresoundedoverpoweringly‐‐andalien.Infact,aftersolonginsilence,itunnervedmeinthesameway,Icanonlyimagine,thatwoodlyinhabitantsareunnervedbysomethingsocontrasting.Iwished,asIwent,thatIhadskissothatIwouldnotintrudemyselfsonoisilyoverthesnow.ButIwasglad,nonetheless,forthestillness‐‐

andtheactivitythatisonlyhinted.ThuspassesJanuaryinMinnesota,withquietlikethesnowfall,andpatientanticipationofthespringandbusymonthstocome.

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2YearsOut:MyJourneyKristina Stoermer ‘08 ImajoredinbiologyatOlafbecauseofmypassiontolearnaboutlife.ThemoreIlearned,themorequestionsIhad.Iquicklyrealizedthatresearchwasthepathforme.IparticipatedintwoResearchExperiencesforUndergraduates(REU)programs—thefirstwasattheUniversityofPittsburghwhereIresearchedTypeIdiabetes;thesecond,supportedbyaprogramatOlaffundedbytheHowardHughesMedicalInstitute,wasatTheWalterandElizaHallInstituteofMedicalResearchinMelbourne,Australia,whereIinvestigatedtheimmuneresponsetoaviralinfection.Ilearnedbitsandpiecesofimmunologyduringthesegreatresearchexperiences;intheirimmunologyandmicrobiologyclasses,TedJohnsonandSaraFruehlingfilledinthegaps.WiththeguidanceofmyresearchmentorsandmyprofessorsatOlaf,Idecidedtogotograduateschoolinthebiomedicalsciencesaftergraduation.Duringmysenioryear,IappliedtoahandfulofimmunologyprogramsthroughouttheUS.IdecidedtoattendtheUniversityofColoradoDenverattheAnschutzMedicalCampusbecauseofitsreputationasagreatimmunologyprogramandawesomegeographiclocation—theopportunitytogoskiing,hiking,andcampingintheRockyMountainswastoomuchtopassup!I’mcurrentlyinmythirdyearofgraduateschoolandlovingit!Thefirsttwoyearsofgraduateschoolwereabitlessexcitingwithclassestopassandhoopstojumpthrough,butnowIspendalmost100%ofmytimeonmyresearch.Ican’twaittogettothelabinthemorning!(Yes,I’manerd,butwhatOleisn’t?)Inbrief,mythesisresearchisinvestigatingtheimmuneresponsetotwomosquito‐borneviruses,RossRivervirusandchikungunyavirus,whichcausechronic,painful,arthritis‐likesymptomsinhumans.AftergraduateschoolI’dliketotakeanon‐traditionalpath(asmanyOlesdo),andliveinadevelopingcountryresearchinganinfectiousdisease.Iwouldalsoliketoincorporateepidemiology,vaccineresearch,andeducationintomyworkabroad.AlthoughIlovedoingbasicresearchusingmousemodels,I’dliketodomoreappliedresearchlong‐term.MyclassesatSt.Olaf,alongwithplayingonthebasketballteam,helpedmetodevelopastrongfoundationinbasicscienceconceptsaswellasagreatabilitytothinkcritically,collaborate,acceptandlearnfromcriticismandfailure,learnquickly,andbealeader.TheliberalartsemphasisatOlafhasaidedinmyabilitytocommunicateinbothwrittenandoralformsmoreeffectivelythanmanyofmypeerswhoattendedlargeruniversities.

Announcements• Inspiredbysomeoftheoff‐campusexperiences?Getyourapplicationsforsemesterand

year‐longstudyabroadprogramstotheOfficeofInternationalandOff‐CampusStudiesbyFebruary28,2011.

• DistinctioninBiology‐applicationdeadlineisMarch4.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsregardingdistinctionseethewebsite<stolaf.edu/depts/biology/distinction>orgetintouchwithKevinCrisp.

• SeniorBanquet–datewillberevealedsoon.Staytuned!!