BIO-BULL
March 7, 2003
RESEARCH AND TEACHING FOREST UPDATE
In response to
the UniverCity development at SFU, the Department of Biological Sciences voted strongly in support of
preservation of the research and teaching forest on the south slope of the campus.
In May, 2000, the Working Forest Group, chaired by John Borden, submitted a
proposal to the University and to the developers for the preservation of
this resource, along with a
supporting petition signed by 202 members of the Department. The forest issue was on the agenda at
the February 11th meeting of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). At this
meeting, Michael Geller, president of the Burnaby Mountain Community Trust
(BMCT) stated that the Official Community Plan for development of the south slope
has been approved, but detailed planning will not begin for at least 2 years.
Mr. Geller suggested that the biology department should work with the BMCT to
formally define and survey the area in question. It is important that the Department take action on this soon
to show its continued interest and to take advantage of the surveying resources
offered by the BMCT. B Leighton
Bruce Leighton has been serving on the CAC for four
years. He was included on the
committee through his involvement with the Stoney Creek Environment Committee
(SCEC) and has been representing the Biology DepartmentÕs interests in an
unofficial capacity. The February
meeting is the last meeting for his term and he will no longer be representing
SCEC or, unofficially, the Biology Department in future. As a result the Biology DepartmentÕs
interests, primarily the research forest, will no longer have a voice. If the Biology Department needs are to
be considered in the future, the department should consider designating an
official representative to meet with the BMCT. L Dodd
MARLENE
NGUYEN
THE MOST TRAVELLED PERSON IN THE DEPARTMENT!
How many of you realized that when you were seeking advice from our Department Graduate Programme Secretary about defending theses, transfer of courses, student travel awards, supervisory committee membership, etc., that this font-of-all-knowledge could also give you a first-hand account of any one of 110 countries?
As you may know, Marlene is German/Swedish and grew up mainly in Hamburg, Germany. After getting married, she and her husband and young son embarked on a dream Ñ to explore the world. For the next six years they travelled worldwide and explored the marvels of different cultures and met hundreds of fascinating people. Eventually, they settled in Vancouver. In 1989 Marlene joined the Department as a 'temp' and three months later was appointed Secretary to the Director of the Master of Pest Management programme, who at that time was Dr. Manfred Mackauer. The years rolled by and she became Secretary also to the Master of Aquaculture programme and later, Secretary to Dr. Punja, Centre for Environmental Biology. Following the retirement of Sylvia Foran last fall, she became Secretary to our Departmental Graduate Programme. Marlene is indispensable to Dr. Margo Moore, Chair of the DGSC and for graduate students, Marlene is the point of first contact with the department (when they apply) and also one of the last points of contact (when they defend). Next time you talk with her you may wish to seek advice of a different kind Ñ about your dream vacation; she has probably been there! J Webster
CELL BIOLOGY AT SFU
In 1973, Dobzhansky wrote "Nothing
in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution" (American Biology
Teacher, Vol 35).
While embraced by many biologists, this perspective has not been satisfying to
cell biologists because our work has depended more on knowledge of chemistry
than of evolution. Efforts to understand the molecular complexity of cells have
driven the field to the point where we can conceive of explaining morphology,
behavior and physiology in terms of the products of genes that can be
manipulated. Cell biologists are now striving for the more complete
understanding that only comes with knowing why a process has particular
properties and not others. Whether or not we agree that "Nothing in evolution
makes sense except in the light of cell biology" (Gerhart & Kirschner,
1997), it is clear that a healthy Cell Biology program is integral to a robust
Biological Sciences Department, and vice versa.
Do we have a healthy Cell Biology program at SFU? Almost. A coalescing group of SFU researchers with interests in the workings of the cell hold a weekly journal club that is open to all (12:30 Fridays; ask LMQ to add your name to the email list). Presentations provide background and significance; research papers are distributed in advance and the discussions are often critical and lively. We are also working to co-ordinate and enrich our cross-departmental offerings of graduate courses in Cell Biology. In addition, a group of BISC faculty is working on revisions to the BISC Cell and Molecular Stream in order to provide a strong undergraduate program that is a reflection of our biological perspective. Finally, plans are underway for a Cell Biology Retreat, bringing together research groups from SFU, UBC and UVic.
Most of us are driven by a simple
curiosity about how this fundamental unit of nature works. But opportunities in
applied animal, plant and medical science all hinge upon understanding cells.
To learn more about the Cell Biology Group at SFU, please visit our webpage: (http://quarmby.ca/cellbio/).
"The key to every biological problem must finally be sought in the cell" E.B. Wilson
L Quarmby
KERRY DELANEY - Kerry was a very busy man when the time to interview came and so a look at his website was called for. Kerry started out in New West, ventured to UBC for his undergrad, went all the way to Princeton to meet his wife and get his PhD and then, for the love of the outdoors it seems, found himself back in BC and a professor at SFU.
ESAM
QNAIS - Esam has been here for four years and is very close to finishing up
his PhD on synaptic plasticity in the frog accessory olfactory bulb.
