Location, Time and Date:

The 33rd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference is scheduled for 7:30am to 6:00pm on Saturday, April 12, 2008, on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University, located in San Diego, California.

Student Research Presentations

Undergraduate researchers may present original research that has been conducted in any area of biology or biochemistry. Research presentations may be given in either a seminar or poster session format. Seminar presentations are limited to 12 minutes plus 2 minutes for questions. Poster presentations must fit within a 40” by 40” square. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best seminar in each subject area as well as for the top six poster presentations. The deadline for abstract submission is February 29, 2008.

Plenary Speaker

The plenary speaker for the Conference is Dr. Francis Collins,  a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), having succeeded James Watson in that post in 1993.  

Educated at the University of Virginia and at Yale, it was during his faculty tenure at the University of Michigan that Dr. Collins perfected his "positional cloning" technique, which ultimately led him to the discovery of genes that when defective, can give rise to such diseases as Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington's Chorea and the M4 type of adult acute leukemia.   As Director of the NHGRI, Dr. Collins led the successful effort to sequence the human genome.   Dr. Collins' keynote address is entitled “Genomics and the Future of Medicine and Society”. 

Registration Fee

The Conference registration fee for both students and faculty is $25, if postmarked by February 29, 2008.   The fee for late registrants is $35.  The registration fee covers the cost of continental breakfast, hot buffet luncheon, awards reception and the Conference Abstract booklet.

Travel Information

Maps of the greater San Diego area are accessible at www.mapquest.com. For a campus map and driving directions to the PLNU campus, please visit Point Loma Nazarene University's web site at http://www.pointloma.edu/Directions.htm.

Hotel Information

Some hotels that are conveniently located to the PLNU campus are listed below, along with their web addresses:

Bay Club Hotel (Shelter Island): http://www.bayclubhotel.com/
Best Western Island Palms Hotel and Marina: http://www.islandpalms.com/
Comfort Inn at the Harbor: http://www.comfortinnattheharbor.com/
Holiday Inn (Harbor Drive): http://www.holinnbayside.com/
Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn and Suites: http://www.halfmooninn.com/
Kona Kai Resort and Spa: http://www.shelterpointe.com/
The Inn at Sunset Cliffs: http://www.innatsunsetcliffs.com/

Several of these establishments have traditionally offered discounts to guests who are attending functions on the PLNU campus, so be sure to inquire.

 

Questions?

For further information or clarification regarding Conference details, contact Dr. Michael McConnell by phone (619) 849 2304, FAX (619) 849 2598 or email: mmcconne@pointloma.edu