Kathleen A. Nolan

Approximately fifty faculty members representing 35 colleges and universities attended the Research Link 2000 Institute held at Ferris State University in Big Rapids Michigan. Our host, James Hoerter, organized this very successful event. The format of this two and a half day workshop was similar to that of the ABLE labs in that we did lab work with one system in the morning, and with a second system in the afternoon. We worked with the same two systems on the second day again. Each of us was able to pick two out of three available systems: Wisconsin Fast Plants (hosted by Paul Williams from the University of Wisconsin, C-Ferns (Les Hichok of the University of Tennessee), and yeast (Beth Montelome of Kansas State University). The third system was made accessible to us in a half-hour "cram" session the second afternoon.

The evenings began with a social at the local Holiday Inn, a buffet dinner, and a lecture. The first evening lecture was given by Elizabeth Howell from Calvin College, in which she outlined various strategies in using yeast with students. On Sunday, Jack Werren from the University of Rochester talked about the ease of working with the jewel wasp, which looks like it is well on its way to becoming a system for the next Research Link. Monday, Ken Poff from Michigan State University stressed the importance of diversifying the student body in plant science. A lively discussion followed this lecture.

We got take-home materials: Fast plant seeds, C-fern spores and plants, and yeast plates. Written materials and videotapes were also included. A green six-pack container and a lamp that are to be used for cultivating the C-ferns made for interesting baggage (and looks) on the plane ride home.

I have been an ABLE member since 1983---my first ABLE conference was in Newfoundland. I have presented two mini-workshops and two major workshops over the years. I have been teaching biology at St. Francis College for five years---general biology, histology, anatomy and physiology, ecology and the environment for non-science majors, basically, whatever they need at any one time! I have previously taught at Yeshiva University and Columbia University. I have used molecular biology as a tool to study the genetics of fish populations, and my current research centers on looking at ways in which current techniques in molecular biology can be incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum.

Kathleen A. Nolan
Dept of Biology
St. Francis College
180 Remsen St.
Brooklyn NY 11201-4398

The evening lectures were followed by poster sessions, which were well-attended. The posters depicted the type of research that was occurring at the various institutions represented, and both the pitfalls and positive aspects of these programs. I was also reacquainted with Sigma Xi as a possibility for our undergraduates, as well as the TriBeta Honor Society. My guess is that everyone wanted to have an audience for their poster, so people pretty much hung around till 10 P.M. I found out (too late) that I missed a couple of the post-poster bar runs, but there's always next time.

I thank James Hoerter and his crew for a well-run and interesting conference, but, as I told Jim, there wasn't enough food. (Huge chocolate cookies at every two hour break!) I also never did get a chance to see the Big Rapids, nor the Grand Rapids where the airport was!

For more information about these research systems, see:
http://www.researchlink.ferris.edu