Kowles writes book about his teaching/learning experiences

WINONA, Minn. — Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus of biology at Saint Mary’s University, candidly and comically recounts his career in his most recent book titled, “A Passion to Teach: 58 years of humorous, weird and engaging tales.”

With a humorous twist, Dr. Kowles details his desire to be a teacher, working his way through college with terrible jobs and teaching for 14 years in three different high schools before entering graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in genetics.

The graduate school episode, he notes, took place with a wife and five young children and required unbelievable financial craftiness. Much of the book also deals with teaching at the college level, chairing a biology department, conducting research, and engaging in scientific communication. Many people in the Saint Mary’s community will recognize names – and even a few embarrassing incidents.

The last three chapters offer personal opinions, viewpoints and biases regarding teaching.

Produced by Beaver’s Pond Press, Edina, the book can be purchased from the SMU Bookstore, the Book Shelf in Winona, Amazon, or directly through Gilmore Creek Press, 1293 County Dr., Winona; (507) 452-1758.

Saint Mary’s hosts Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology

Winona, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Biology Department will host the 39th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, April 20, in the Adducci Science Center.

Students from Saint Mary’s Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics departments and students from colleges and universities in the tri-state region will present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 8:20 a.m.

The symposium presents all attendees the opportunity to experience the process of open collegial assessment of experimental findings, the opportunity to encounter discoveries from a variety of scientific disciplines, and an excellent environment to develop personal contacts and acquaintances.

Dan Keyler, professor of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Graduate School, will present the R.V. Kowles Lecture at 1:45 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center. Professor Keyler is a noted expert in the field of envenomations, actively publishing and presenting lectures on venomous snake bites. He serves as the director of Research for Animal Venom Research International and as a consultant to several groups including the Minnesota Poison Control System and the United States Armed Forces. The title of his presentation is “Toxicology & Snakes: Passion and a Career.”

The public is invited to attend the lecture, as well as the student presentations, free of charge. Morning refreshments will be provided.

Saint Mary’s hosts Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Biology Department will host the 38th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, April 8, in the Adducci Science Center.

Students from Saint Mary’s and other colleges and universities in the tri-state region will present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 8:20 a.m.

The symposium presents all attendees the opportunity to experience the process of open collegial assessment of experimental findings, the opportunity to encounter discoveries from a variety of scientific disciplines, and an excellent environment to develop personal contacts and acquaintances.

Dr. Marla Spivak, Distinguished McKnight Professor of Apiculture and Social Insects in the Department of Entomology and director of the Bee Lab at the University of Minnesota, will present the R.V. Kowles Lecture. Dr. Spivak’s research into the mechanisms of disease resistance in bee colonies is internationally recognized. For her work and her active dissemination of best practices to beekeepers worldwide, Dr. Spivak was recently awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. Her presentation, titled “Socialized Medicine in Honey Bee Colonies,” will begin at 1:45 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center.

The public is invited to attend the lecture, as well as the student presentations, free of charge. Morning refreshments will be provided.

SMU students participate in Mayo Scholars Program

WINONA, Minn. — Nine Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota students were chosen to participate in the educational opportunity of a lifetime through the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program. For the past five months, these students contributed to innovative medical research, associated with the world’s most prestigious health care system.

The Mayo Innovation Scholars Program, now in its fourth year, offers an opportunity for selected MBA students and undergraduate science and business students to research projects submitted by Mayo Clinic professionals through the Mayo Clinic Office of Intellectual Property and coordinated through MPCC.

The program connects students from biology, chemistry, math, physics, pre-med and business and helps prepare them for careers in hospitals, medical research institutions and health care agencies.

Saint Mary’s program participants included business majors Boya Hu, Brittany Peterson, Agnieszka Kadej and Matt Wilgenbusch; computer science major Emily Friedl; and biological sciences majors Melissa Wolf, Caitlin O’Connor, Phil Thomas and Thomas Briese.

Biology students receive Tribeta research grants

Five Saint Mary’s University biology students were awarded the National Biology Honor society Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation research scholarships including, from left: Brianna Braun, Angela Lager, John Fox, Ashley Loos and Hilary Framke.

WINONA, Minn. — Biology students at Saint Mary’s University were awarded Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation scholarships. Each student submitted a proposal for his or her senior research project outlining the objectives of the research and a budget. The students, their projects and their research advisors are:


• Hilary Framke, “Physiological responses to crude extract of Noturus gyrinus pectoral spine toxin,” Dr. Randy Krainock, advisor;

• Ashley Loos, “The response of Micropterus salmides to venom produced by Noturus gyrinus,” Dr. Krainock, advisor;

• John Fox, “The effects of tissue isolation from the fins of Noturus gyrinus on Leponis gibbosus and Mus musculus,” Dr. Jeanne Minnerath, advisor;

• Brianna Braun, “Determining the paternity of Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuaria) in the bluffs around Winona,” Dr. Phil Cochran and Dr. Debra Martin, advisors;

• Angela Lager, “Genetic variation between and within local populations of timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus,” Dr. Martin and Dr. Cochran, advisors.


Dr. Martin is the Beta Beta Beta advisor.

SMU biology students present at Beta Beta Beta meeting

WINONA, Minn. — Five Saint Mary’s University biology students presented their research at the NC-3 Beta Beta Beta district meeting, hosted by the Gamma Eta Chapter at Grand View University on April 17-18, in conjunction with the Iowa Academy of Science held at Des Moines University, Iowa.

The students, their project and their research advisors are:

• Maria Borgerson, “Determination of Genetic Relationship Between Female Phellodendron Chinese in Saint Mary’s Park and Offspring Phellodendron Chinese Found Nearby” — advised by Dr. Debra Martin.

• Nicole Haese, ”The Effects of the Dietary Supplement Laucidin on Blood Glucose Levels of Diabetic Mice” — advised by Dr. Jeanne Minnerath.

• Ben Linder, “Analyzing the M3 Repeat Region of the Induced Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) Gene in Homo Sapiens with Exercised Induced Asthma” — advised by Dr. Martin.

• Melanie Tyler, “Assaying of Lysozyme Inhibitor from Egg-Whites” — advised by Dr. Martin.

• Lori Brunner, “The Mode and Extent of DNA Replication During Endomitosis in Nodules of Leguminous Plants” — advised by Dr. Richard Kowles.

Haese was award first place for the Frank G. Brook Award and Tyler was awarded third place.

Dr. Martin is the Beta Beta Beta district director.

Goodall Institute director to highlight SMU biology research symposium April 4

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Biology Department and Biology Club will host the 35th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, April 4, in the Adducci Science Center.

Students from Saint Mary’s and other colleges and universities in the tri-state region will present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until the 11:45 a.m. lunch break; presentations will then continue from 2:15 to 4 p.m.

This year’s featured speaker is Dr. Anne Pusey, director of the Jane Goodall Institute's Center for Primate Studies at the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Pusey will present "Friends or foes? Social relationships among female chimpanzees" from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

Dr. Pusey studied juvenile and adolescent development in the Gombe chimpanzees in the 1970s, then spent more than 10 years studying the social behavior of lions in the Serengeti. At the Jane Goodall Institute's Center for Primate Studies, which houses data on chimpanzees and baboons, Dr. Pusey’s research group is computerizing and analyzing the data from Jane Goodall's 46-year study of the Gombe chimpanzees.

She is studying the ecological determinants of social systems, dispersal patterns, the factors that cause animals to live in different kinds of groups, and the benefits animals derive from the particular relationships they form.

The public is invited to attend Dr. Pusey’s lecture, as well as the student presentations, free of charge.

Students celebrate National Chemistry Week during SMU Chemistry Night Oct. 25, Nov. 1

WINONA, Minn. — Several area high school juniors and seniors (and their teachers) will be learning the importance of chemistry in everyday life via hands-on activities 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 during Chemistry Nights at Saint Mary’s University.

Chemistry Night, sponsored by the SMU Department of Chemistry and the La Crosse-Winona Local Section of the American Chemical Society, is an annual event to help students explore the discipline of chemistry and appreciate the positive role chemistry plays in the world.

Each year students solve a challenging but fun chemical problem based on the National Chemistry Week theme; this year’s theme is “The Faces of Chemistry.”

Students will be distributed into small teams and will work with instrumentation in the SMU Department of Chemistry, under the guidance of chemistry majors.
During the event, students will have hands-on exposure to various chemical instrumentation and wet chemistry. Prizes will be awarded including 12 SMU scholarships of $2,000 and $1,000.

The event is free, and there are still openings. Students who are interested should have their high school science teacher contact Dr. Jim Vogel at (507) 457-1558.

Research symposium in biology is April 20 at Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Biology Department and Biology Club will host the 34th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, April 20, in the Toner Student Center.

Undergraduates from Saint Mary’s and from Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.,, will present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until the 11:45 a.m. lunch break; presentations will continue from 2:15 to 4 p.m.

At 1:15 p.m., a DVD presentation featuring Dr. Charles Muscoplat, vice president for Statewide Strategic Resource Development and McKnight Presidential Leadership Chair, will be held in Figliulo Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Dr. Muscoplat can no longer attend the symposium in person. His talk is titled: “Nutrigenomics: How the Chemicals and Genes in our Food Affect the Chemicals and Genes in our Body.”

The public is welcome to attend any of the presentations.