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[ News in Brief ]
Students gather mushroom samples on a biology field trip. A new grant will help more students
earn a degree in biology.
Biology Expands Undergrad Research
STUDENTS WHO MAY NEVER have
dreamed of studying the sciences will get
the chance thanks to an $892,000 grant
awarded to Humboldt State by the National
Science Foundation. It’s for recruitment and
training of under-represented minorities.
“The opportunity for students to
work closely with a faculty mentor, on
a research project spanning two years,
will serve as a springboard for students
to pursue careers involving scientific
research in biological sciences,” said
Professor Matthew Johnson, chair of the
Department of Wildlife and member of
the Undergraduate Research Mentoring
Program in the Biological Sciences.
The program is designed for minority
students who are interested in earning a
degree in the biological sciences. It will
help students develop the tools they need
to master their chosen fields, and encourage
and prepare them to apply to graduate
programs.
Selected students will enter the program
this summer and begin two years of course
work, including three research projects.
Each student will work closely with three
different faculty members and will choose a
mentor for the duration of the program.
Professor Bruce O’Gara from the Department
of Biological Sciences is guiding
the effort.
He says, “I’m hoping the students realize
that they can do real science, and that
they go on and contribute to society by
producing some good science.”
Alum Named Top
U.S. Professor
HSU ALUM ROBERT
THOMAS (geology,
’85), professor of
geology at the
University of Montana
Western, has been
named a 2009 U.S.
Professor of the Year
by the Council for
Advancement and Support of Education.
Thomas and three other winners
were honored at an awards ceremony
in November in Washington, D.C. for
“actively engaging their undergraduate
students in hands-on research and
extensive team work.”
During his tenure at Montana Western,
Thomas has helped the campus evolve
from a traditional state “normal school”
into an experiential learning university
that uses an immersion scheduling
system, in which students take one course
at a time in an 18-day stretch. Students
build portfolios of what they can do,
documenting their professional skills
and equipping them with “a tremendous
advantage over a transcript listing
classes,” he says.
Lori Dengler, chair of HSU’s
Department of Geology, said, “The best
thing about my job is the absolutely topnotch
students we get to interact with
and [Rob Thomas] is in the elite group
at the top. I can’t think of anyone who
deserves it more.”
As part of his public outreach, Thomas
has helped lead 10 “Geo Venture”
field trips for the Geological Society of
America, and the society recognized him
with a Distinguished Service Award.
Thomas’ professional service includes
many years of teaching the Princeton University
geology field camp. He has been
president of the Rocky Mountain Paleontological
Society and edited Northwest
Geology and the Journal of Geoscience
Education. He is a 2008 recipient of HSU’s
Distinguished Alumni Award.
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HUMBOLDT MAGAZINE | Spring 2010