The following e-mail message was sent to all current Biology majors on 8 April 2005:

Hello majors!

The semester is quickly coming to a close but, while I still have your attention, here are a few things you might be interested in...

Penn Biology Labs looking for help...
Plant ecology lab is looking for a summer lab/field assistant. The assistant will help with greenhouse experiments, collect soil samples, and assist with lab tests (experience with molecular techniques is helpful but not required). Contact Brenda Casper (bcasper@sas.upenn.edu) for more information.

Plant genetics lab is seeking two lab assistants to help with lab and greenhouse experiments. No prior experience is necessary. Contact Bin Kang (of the Cashmore lab) at kangbin@sas.upenn.edu for more information. No need to wait for summer - you can start now!

Time for nominations...
The Biology department is seeking nominations for the department's Excellence in Teaching Award. The recipient should be a member of the Penn Biology faculty (professors from other departments, adjunct and temporary faculty are not eligible). Nominate your favorite professor by contacting a member of the Student Advisory Board. Please provide the name of the nominee, the course you took and a brief statement explaining why you selected the professor. Recent winners include Dr. Wagner (2004), Dr. Sniegowski (2003) and Dr. Zigmond (2002) - who will you choose? [For more on Dr. Sniegowski's teaching see the department web page at http://www.bio.upenn.edu - hip, hip hooray!]

Summer course...
The University of Michigan Biological Station is offering a summer course, Natural History and Evolution. Course lectures will link evolutionary theory to the diversity of the northern Michigan region. Field trips and field experiments will explore the impact of human modification on the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biological diversity, and differential survival of organisms. The course runs for eight weeks. For more information visit their website at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umbs

New undergraduate journal...
The following was sent to us by a new group at Penn starting a journal by and for undergraduates. This is a great chance to shape this brand new publication:

THE TRIPLE HELIX: The National Undergraduate Journal of Science, Society, and Law
First General Body Meeting
Tuesday, April 12th, 2005
7pm in Huntsman Hall JMHH F36
Complete chapters established at Cornell, UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Univ. of Pennsylvania!
Want your article to be distributed and read by students and faculty at the above universities and more to come? Interested in science and its interaction with society and law? Want to write and publish articles about hot topics in scientific research, intellectual property law, healthcare policies, the latest medical controversies, and more? Interested in taking a leadership role and contributing to the development of a soon-to-be non-profit organization and the production of an outstanding national journal?

Then come to our first General Body meeting to learn more!
We are currently seeking individuals interested in helping with any aspect of the journal, including writing, editing, web design, marketing, and finance. Leadership positions, including executive board positions, need to be filled!
If you have any questions or cannot make the meeting but would like to participate still, please e-mail us at nayanm@seas.upenn.edu, and learn more at www.thetriplehelix.org!
Nayan N. Mehta
National Editorial Board Member
President & Editor-in-Chief, UPenn chapter
The Triple Helix

That's it for now. Good luck during the next few weeks!
Robin

Robin Sherwood, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Coordinator
Dept. of Biology