Dear Friends and Colleagues,
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2008 was welcomed by the biology and chemistry departments at PLNU by continued growth, plans for one of the busiest summer research programs yet, a graduate program in biology, a number of exciting educational programs and with preparations for hosting the 33rd annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference. Top this off with a continued or rather re-energized effort for fundraising for the new science building. Research Associates has been and will continue to play an important role in all these areas as well.
Growth is good. When I arrived as an eager Biology major in 1980 there were 3 full time and 2 part time Biology faculty. When I graduated in 1984 this had not really changed. Likewise the Chemistry department had 3 full time faculty. |
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Currently there are 13 Biology faculty and 6 Chemistry faculty. Summer Research in 1980 had less than 15 students combined in Biology and Chemistry and this past year there were 35 such students. One has only to attend the Fall Research Associates breakfast to see the hard work of the current students and the impact that Research Associates has on them as far as honoring them and rewarding them with financial awards.
To quote the University catalog, “The Point Loma Nazarene University master’s program in general biology is an unusual hybrid unlike any other graduate program in California. The program combines the rigorous content-driven coursework of a typical master’s program in biology with the pedagogical strengths of a traditional master’s program in education. Courses in the program pertain to both science and teaching and are blended so that as graduate students learn the scientific concepts, they will understand the challenges their own students will face in learning the same concepts at a different level”.
Research Associates continues to support the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference. A number of PLNU undergraduates present results of their summer research. The 33rd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2008, on the campus. 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). Dr. Michael McConnell’s efforts in organizing and pulling off this event when it is hosted at PLNU contribute to its success.
Efforts to raise money for the new science building have been going on for years. Many phone calls have been made and many letters have been sent soliciting donations. It is clear these efforts must continue as well as finding new and creative ways to raise the funds necessary to make this project a reality. All of us and the personal and professional connections we have made in our lives are important in trying to find these new and creative ways. I am excited to tell you that at the last Research Associates Board meeting we were informed that this project is now at the forefront of fundraising for the University and is a priority of President Brower.
I encourage each of you to continue your support of Research Associates so that we may continue to support the many .students, faculty, conferences and programs in biology and chemistry at PLNU.
John D. Rogers, MD | |