News & Events | Research News | Seminar Schedule | Recognition and Awards

SOUTHERN MISS ORGANIZATION HOSTED THE HAUNTED HALLOWEEN TRAIL

The University of Southern Mississippi Roots N’ Shoots chapter hosted the Haunted Halloween Biology Trail from 4 -7 p.m. Friday, October 30th in the Biological Sciences Learning Center, located in the basement of Mississippi Hall on the Hattiesburg campus.

The event was free of charge and open to the community. The trail was designed by students for children ages 4-12 and represented a revised version of the standard biology trail with unique, exciting and spooky twists.

The trail was launched in 2005 to create a hands-on learning activity to engage Southern Miss students in getting children in the community excited about biology and science. This year over 225 children and adults participated in the trail despite the inclement weather that moved through the city. The 11 stations were created and led by 21 USM students. “Our haunted trail is staffed by students interested in biology who provide creative, fun and interesting ways to learn about fossils, arthropods, and vertebrates,” said Aimee T. Lee, biological sciences instructor. There were also over 20 students who served as tour guides and provided entertainment while families waited for their turn.

Lee says the children learned about live animals, participated in a fossil dig, touched bones of different animals, and experienced the world of chemistry by witnessing a chemical eruption. They also learned about different animals that produce bioluminescence and how they can prevent polluting our environment.

“At one station, children learned about marine science and were given a treat of goldfish crackers,” said Lee. “We tie the treats to each specific learning area. The trail was developed as a fun way for the entire family to experience biology with an exciting, spooky twist at Halloween.”

Roots N’ Shoots involves youths and college students who enjoy learning about and servicing their communities. Students plan and implement projects to benefit people, animals and the environment.

The Southern Miss chapter was established in 2005 with the help of Lynn Houston and Hattiesburg High School students. Globally, Roots N’ Shoots engages students through community service learning opportunities and activities.

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES PLANT SALE

It’s time for the Biological Sciences Plant Sale! The Fall sale will be September 26th from 8 a.m – 2 p.m. As usual, the sale will be located in front of the Biological Sciences Teaching Garden on the east side of Walker Science Building.

Azaleas and Camellias: We have our biggest selection of camellias ever. We have Pink Perfection! For azaleas, we’ll focus on fall bloomers and repeat bloomers.

Natives: Fall is the time for beautyberry and we have plenty of Callicarpa amricana on hand. As usual, we have a nice assortment of berry-producing natives for attracting birds. We finally have a male pollinator for your winterberries. We’ll have just a few Gordonia lasianthus. BIG NEWS: We’ll have two special magnolia species. Magnolia macrophylla and the rarest North American magnolia, Magnolia ashei.

Fruit Trees: By popular request, we’ve greatly expanded our selection of fruits. We have apples, pears, papaya, plums, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, figs and muscadines. Wow! We also have the classic Pineapple Guava. Asparagus isn’t a fruit, but you can eat it and we’ll have it!

Asian selections: Our Asian selections have been really popular. We have some really nice Japanese Maples. We’ll have a new Chinese Mahonia variety that can’t be found yet in the Pine Belt. Edgeworthia, Japanese Blueberry, Kadsura Vine, Evergreen Solomon Seal, and Nippon Lily are some of the rare selections we’ll have in stock. For the first time ever, we’ll have Dawn Redwood. Quantities are limited (and they’re expensive : ( ). As always, you can Go Gold with a new Ginkgo.

Ferns: We’ll have at least TEN species of ferns for sale!

Tropicals: Our tropical selection is limited this fall, but we’ll have two new selections: Zingiber zerumbet and Alocasia lauterbachiana. We’ll also have Midnight Ginger and Mickey Mouse Taro.

Classic selections: No southern garden is complete without Sweet Olive, Banana Shrub, Forsythia, and Gardenia. New classics include Dwarf Abelia, Silver Mist Juniper, Florida Jasmine and Knockout Roses. Although Cleyera is not particularly unusual, our Cleyera is huge!

Proceeds will benefit the BSC Teaching Gardens and Outreach Programs including the USM Blueberrification Project and Butterfly Gardens at several local schools. Come get your hands dirty and help support the beautification of Southern Miss!

Click here to view an availability and price list! E-mail Mike.Davis@usm.edu, if you would like to reserve items on the list.

Happy Gardening!

RUSSIAN BIOLOGIST VISITS USM TO STUDY MIGRATORY BIRDS

This fall, the Migratory Bird Research Group welcomes Dr. Nikita Chernetsov, a Senior Research Fellow with the Rybachy Biological Station, which is part of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science. Rybachy, one of the world's first ornithological stations, is located on the Cornish Spit of the Baltic Sea, where bird migration has beens studied since 1901. Nikita, who will participate in field work and share expertise during his visit, presents a departmental seminar on October 2.

Dr. MOHAMED ELASRI - PRESIDENT-ELECT OF MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (MAS).

Congratulations to Dr. Mohamed Elasri on his election as President-elect of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences (MAS). Today is exciting time to be interested in science; consider joining the Academy: http://www.msacad.org/

ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT INFORMAL NOONTIME SERIES

Join other students and faculty in an informal noontime series focused on Ecology, Evolution, and the Environment (E3) every Wednesday in Bobby Chain Technology 106. E3 provides a relaxed atmosphere to talk about exciting research ongoing at Southern Miss. Click here for a schedule of informal talks.

2009 USM CAMP INVENTION

For the fourth straight year, USM is hosting Camp Invention the week of June 8, 2009. The campers participate in 5 modules daily, using their imagination, creativity and hands to create, explore and invent. They have embarked on a Viking Treasure Trek, participated in Comic Book Science, built Land Sleds, started Taking Apart old machines and created new games in Recess Remix! To see more pictures, find our group on www.facebook.com. Click on the "groups" icon and search for USM Camp Invention. Enjoy!

Below are some pictures of the event. Please click on icons to view full size images.

2009 DISTINGUISHED BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES GRADUATES

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES INSTRUCTORS RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Aimée T. Lee and Cynthia Littlejohn, Biological Sciences instructors, received a $26,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund a GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs) Mississippi summer academy on USM’s Hattiesburg campus during June 2009. GEAR UP MS is aimed at improving the educational environment and broadening support for Mississippi students who live in economically limited communities and who represent areas with historically limited participation in post-secondary education opportunities (www.gearupms.org). The students will spend one week exploring scientific endeavors and careers while being immersed in the everyday experience of a college environment. They will be engaged in activities including learning:
1) the science behind bacterial counts of food and soil
2) ecological assessment techniques
3) outdoor survival skills
4) team building activities
5) practical applications for a career in the sciences.
They will also get to explore Black Creek and engage in educational and fun bonfire activities.

25TH ANNUAL GRADUATE STUDENT FORUM SYMPOSIUM

The 25th Annual Graduate Student Forum Symposium, sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences, Sigma Xi, and the MFGN, takes place March 7th in Reuben Auditorium of the Walker Science Building. Undergraduates and graduate students from the College of Science and Technology are presenting their research. The symposium begins at 8:30 a.m. with a Keynote Address by Irene M. Pepperberg, animal behaviorist and author of the New York Times best seller Alex and Me – a book about how a scientist and a parrot discovered new insights to animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process. Dr. Pepperberg is also presenting a colloquium in the Department of Psychology at 12 noon Friday, March 6th, and will be signing books at Barnes and Noble that same day from 1:00-1:30 p.m.

BSC CREATES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER

The Department of Biological Sciences in concert with University and community partners is creating a center for environmental education and research and nature preserve that will:

• Create an experience-based learning environment for our students
• Contribute to teacher preparation in the life sciences
• Provide a setting to conduct field-oriented research
• Reach out to surrounding communities to improve biology education and scientific literacy through programs designed for all ages: K - 12 through life long learners
• Enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation and a healthier community

The center is located on what is known as the Lake Thoreau property, which was owned by Mason Leon Eubanks, a faculty member in English at Southern Miss for 22 years and where he, his friends and others, hiked, fished, and hunted over the years. In 2000, keepers of his estate donated approximately 131 acres of the land to the University Foundation with the intention that it would be used as a wildlife refuge. Leased to the Department of Biological Sciences in 2008, creation of the Lake Thoreau Center for Environmental Education and Research and the Leon Eubanks Nature Preserve is entirely consistent with the intentions of Mr. Eubanks, our instructional, research and public outreach programs, and each of the University’s Strategic Areas of Focus:

• Increased visibility
• Connection with the community
• Top flight educational experience
• Promotion of healthy bodies and minds

The Center will help us to respond to widespread scientific illiteracy and the prospect that our children are increasingly alienated from the natural world, while providing an effective, healthy opportunity for outdoor recreation in line with the Governor‘s “Lets Go Walkin’ Mississippi” program.

Located a few miles west of campus on West 4th Street adjacent to the Longleaf Trace “rails-to trails” path, which extents nearly 50 miles between its Gateway on the USM Hattiesburg campus to Prentiss, Mississippi, Lake Thoreau is convenient for our teaching, research and outreach missions. Literally thousands of school age youngsters are within easy driving distance of the proposed Center.

We are designing a center of sufficient size to serve multiple functions, including experience based classrooms, research laboratories, kitchen and dining facilities, bunk rooms, and general meeting areas overlooking Lake Thoreau, and accessible by bike and hiking paths connected to the Longleaf Trace. In addition to educational, research and outreach functions, it is easy to imagine University and community organizations hosting conferences and workshops at the facility, not to mention an occasional wedding or family reunion. Creation of the center will serve as a magnet for individual and corporate donations to the University. At a very personal level, it is not difficult to find Southern Miss supporters and alumni who fondly remember time spent on Lake Thoreau.

Center property has been re-surveyed, fenced, posted as a nature preserve, a teaching deck constructed overlooking Lake Thoreau, and master planning underway with Landry and Lewis Architects and Ford Engineering Services, both of Hattiesburg.

For more information, please contact the Department of Biological Sciences:

Frank Moore, Chair
Biological Sciences
The University of Southern Mississippi
601.266.4748
Frank.moore@usm.edu
http://www.usm.edu/biology/