Department of

Biological Sciences

Eastern Illinois University

Fall 2014

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

HOMECOMING EVENTS Saturday, October 25, 2014

10:30a.m. - 1:30p.m. Alumni Tent City located at the Practice Fields South of O’Brien Stadium. All colleges will be repre-sented at this annual tailgating event. Be sure to stop by the College of Sciences tent for a complimentary lunch.

1:30p.m. Homecoming Football Game at O’Brien Stadium. Come cheer on EIU as we take on Tennessee State.

For a complete list of events for EIU Homecoming 2014

Biological Sciences Retirees

Several faculty members of the de-partment of Biological Sciences re-tired at the end of last year. Retirees include Janice Coons (Plant Physiolo-gist), Nancy Coutant (Botanist) Kip McGilliard (Animal Physiologist), Andy Methven (Mycologist) and Henry Owen (Plant Geneticist). Each of these individuals contributed to the teaching and training of multi-tudes of undergraduates and gradu-ate students over the past 10-25 years. If you would like to communi-cate with these individuals, e-mail addresses are available on the Bio-logical Science home page in the Fac-ulty and Staff section. The depart-ment is currently conducting an in-ternational search for a plant geneti-cist.

Made possible due to a recent donation by

the Lumpkin Family of Mattoon, Thomas

Canam, Ph.D. in the Department of Bio-

logical Sciences, is leading an effort to

both grow plants for biofuel studies as well

as study wildlife dynamics on a 120 acre

plot of land near Charleston IL. This ef-

fort will provide resources to determine the feasibility of certain grasses

as biofuels as well as provide research opportunities for both graduates

and undergraduate students. In addition, class projects will monitor

how these grasses interact with other organisms in the environment.

The department is working with FDC Enterprises, Inc. to plant grasses

that both produce biofuels as well as provide a rich environment for oth-

er organisms.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Canam’s research

Dr. Canam (left) with Grad-

uate Student Ryan Kalenoski

Lumpkin Family Land Donation to

be Used for Biofuel Research and

Wildlife Studies

Steve Mullin Named Chief Editor of

Herpetologica and BBC Radio

Interview

Steve Mullin, Ph.D. was named Chief Edi-

tor of the Journal Herpetologica, the most

cited journal in this

discipline. Dr.

Mullin’s research

efforts were also

highlighted in an on-

site interviewed by a

reporter for the BBC

series entitled

“Nature” regarding his efforts at monitor-

ing brownsnake populations at Fox Ridge

State Park.

Click here to listen to the complete broadcast

Give a Gift Online Now! Make a difference in BIO. Your contributions can easily be made online and specifically earmarked for a variety of purposes that support the education and training of

our students.

Botany: Gifts to specifically support botanical programs,

its students, and its faculty.

Zoology: Gifts to support zoological programs.

Health Sciences: Gifts to specifically support the Pre-

Health Program, its students, and its faculty.

Environmental Biology: Gifts to specifically support the Environmental Biology Program, its students, and its

faculty.

Graduate Program: Gifts to specifically support the

Graduate Program, its students, and its faculty.

Undergraduate Program: Gifts to specifically support

the Undergraduate Program, its students, and its faculty.

Special Events: Gifts to support special events within

the department.

Community Outreach: Gifts to support many different initiatives of the department, including, but not limited to: faculty and student travel to presentations, registered student organization initiatives, and professional devel-

opment activities.

Facilities Support: Gifts directed to improve the depart-

ment's facilities, equipment and technology.

Scholarships and Awards: Gifts directed to provide deserving students with financial rewards for ex-cellence.

To give a gift online, click here

Biological Sciences Academic Year Snap-Shot Stats

12 faculty presented at conferences

32 students presented at conferences

62 faculty publications

9 publications with or by students

33 actively funded external grants

5 students worked on federal grants

16 students worked on state-regional grants

11 students worked on internal grants (CFR, PFR,

IRIS)

102 students enrolled in independent study or under-

graduate research courses

12 BIO Honors Program research projects

Titan Arum Blooms Again

For the fourth time in eight years, the Titan

Arum, or “corpse flower,” bloomed. This ra-

re plant, native to Sumatra attracted a large

number of visitors. A live video feed, blog

and public viewing was organized by Steve

Malehorn, our Greenhouse Manager. This

two-day event hosted over 800 visitors to

view and smell the flower housed in the

Thut Greenhouse. There were 6,000 view-

ers over the Internet through the live feed.

Heartland Highways Features The Whiteside Garden

A recent episode of Heartland High-ways was broadcast featuring the Whiteside Garden and includes in-terviews with faculty, students and friends of the garden. Included is an interview with Wes Whiteside.

Individuals interviewed included (in order of appearance) Dr. Janice Coons, Nancy Coutant, Kathy Pickle (Dr. Tom Canam's wife), Dakota Radford (former EIU student) and Dr. Wes Whiteside. Dr. Whiteside partnered with EIU in 2010 to ensure the garden will be maintained in the future. The Whiteside Garden is a sustainable centerpiece for EIU and the community.

Click here to view the entire broadcast