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BIOFEEDBACK, Week Ending: October 27, 2005,
Volume 12, Number 31

Submissions

Volume 12, Number 31
Submissions, questions, or comments to Deanne Timmons 2-3310 -deanne.timmons@ualberta.ca 
Submission deadline for the next issue is at noon on Wednesday, November 2.

Department Calendar

October 24-28 Fall Mid-term Examinations
October 28 'Flu Immunization Clinic
October 30 Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 2 Support Staff Meeting
November 9 Teaching Chat Group
November 10 Faculty Retreat
November 11 Remembrance Day - University Buildings Closed
November 14 Tickets on Sale for BGSA Christmas Party
November 16-17 Fall Convocation
 
Payroll Deadlines and Information www.biology.ualberta.ca/department/hr/ 
 
BioSci Calendar Online
When you have an event to list on the Department Calendar of Events, contact Deanne or Scott at deanne.timmons@ualberta.ca or scott.wierstra@ualberta.ca

Department News and Notices

Protect Your Information
It has come to my attention that the United Way solicitation letters that we are receiving through campus mail not only have our names and previous donation information, but also our University ID numbers (employee number). You might just want to remove that information if you're putting the letter in the recycling bin.
 
Mark Your Calendars
The BGSA will be hosting a Christmas party at Dinwoodie's on December 10 and you're invited! This year's theme is "Northern Lights Ball" and tickets will be available starting November 14: Students $10, Staff $15. Watch this space for more details coming soon...
 
Storeroom E-mail
To e-mail the Storeroom, you no longer have to send your message to a particular staff member: just send your message to storeroom@biology.ualberta,ca.
 
Not Getting A 'Flu Shot?
Alberta Health and Wellness has developed an influenza self-care package of information called It’s In Your Hands with information regarding prevention and symptom treatment of influenza for Albertans. Guidelines are included on how to treat influenza symptoms with over-the-counter medications and complementary medicines.  Information is also provided for caregivers and parents on how to care for adults and children with influenza.
Staff Meeting
There will be a meeting of the operating and trust support staff on Wednesday, November 2 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in M 145. Please send agenda items to Deanne Timmons at 2-3310 or deanne.timmons@ualberta.ca  RSVPs appreciated but not required.
 
Bio-DiTRL Submissions Encouraged
Bio-DiTRL is approaching 2500 image and media items in the database. With our exposure in Science, Bio-DiTRL's user base is larger than ever. More and more publications are using our database but new images and media are always needed. Uploading is very user friendly and if you don't have the time to upload, contact the managing editor, Jerry Filipski, and he will be happy to upload the images for you. Do you have any images in your lab that could be uploaded? What about pdfs from poster presentations by faculty or grad students? We should be encouraging departing grad students to contribute their images to Bio-DiTRL. Courses should have their images stored on Bio-DiTRL as well, making them easily accessible to students. If you have any questions, concerns or simply want help uploading, call Jerry at 2-1251 or e-mail jerry.filipski@ualberta.ca

Seminars

Thursday, October 27, 2005, 4:00 p.m., TBW 1 Tory Breezeway
Lisa Lumley, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"HYBRID INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE SPRUCE BUDWORM, Choristoneura fumiferana, AND THE TWO YEAR CYCLE BUDWORM, C. biennis"
Entomology 601
 
Friday, October 28, 2005, 12:00 p.m., M 145 Biological Sciences Building
Todd Mahon, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"EFFECTS OF TIMBER HARVESTING WITHIN NEST AREAS ON THE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF NORTHERN GOSHAWKS"
Biology 631
 
Friday, October 28, 2005, 3:30 p.m., M 149 Biological Sciences Building
David Evans, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta
"A CURIOUS STORY ABOUT A PECULIAR GENE: WHY DO TUMORIGENIC POXVIRUSES ENCODE CATALYTICALLY-INACTIVE HOMOLOGS OF Cu-Zn SOD1?"
Genetics 605, hosted by Shelagh Campbell
 
Monday, October 31, 2005, 12:00 p.m., M 145 Biological Sciences
Winnie Wang, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"FUNGI: WERE THEY VIRULENCE FACTORS IN DINOSAUR EXTINCTION?"
Botany 600
 
Monday, October 31, 2005, 3:00 p.m., B 105 Biological Sciences Building
Wayne Knee, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"THE STATE OF BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERS IN PHYLOGENETIC STUDIES"
Biology 506/507
 
Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 12:00 p.m., T 1-90 Tory Building
Scott Parks, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF INTRACELLULAR pH IMAGING IN TROUT GILL MITOCHONDRIA-RICH CELLS"
Biology 642
 
Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 11:00 a.m., M 137 Biological Sciences Building
Daelynn R. Buelow, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"CRANBERRY JUICE AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS"
Microbiology 606/607
 
Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 3:00 p.m., M 137 Biological Sciences Building
Aaron Donahue, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"FEASIBILITY OF THE GENETIC MODIFICATION OF PLANTS FOR EXPLOSIVE DETECTION"
Industrial Internship Programme
 
Thursday, November 3, 2005, 12:30 p.m., M 141 Biological Sciences Building
Monica Engstrom, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT EYE COLOUR THING TO ME?"
Genetics 601
 
Friday, November 4, 2005, 11:00 a.m., M 137 Biological Sciences Building
Eva M. Top, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho
"ADAPTIVE EVOLUTION OF PROMISCUOUS PLASMIDS"
Microbiology 606/607 Special Seminar
 
Friday, November 4, 2005, 3:30 p.m., M 149 Biological Sciences Building
Brian Howell, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
"GENETIC INTERACTIONS THAT REGULATE Dab1 FUNCTION AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT"
Genetics 605
 
Monday, November 7, 2005, 12:00 p.m., M 145 Biological Sciences Building
Manjeet Kumari, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"THE UBIQUITIN-PROTEOSOME PATHWAY AND PLANT PHOTOMORPHOGENEISES"
Botany 600
 
Monday, November 7, 2005, 3:00 p.m., B 105 Biological Sciences Building
Kurt Konhauser, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta
"MICROBIAL SILICIFICATION AND PRECAMBRIAN FOSSIL FORMATION"
Biology 506/507
 
Tuesday, November 8, 2005, 12:00 p.m., T 1-90 Tory Building
Tara Klassen, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"MUTATIONS IN THE S4 VOLTAGE SENSOR AT A SHAKER POTASSIUM CHANNEL RECOVER A DELAYED RECTIFIER PHENOTYPE"
Biology 642
 
Of Interest:
 
Thursday, October 27, 2005, 4:30 p.m., ETLC 1-007
Richard Forman, Harvard University
"USING PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY IN SOLUTIONS FOR ROAD SYSTEMS AND URBAN REGIONS"
Conserving Biodiversity in Northern Cities, sponsored by ERSC
 
Thursday, October 27, 2005, 5:00 p.m., 2-36 Earth Sciences Building
Robin Munro, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"EFFECTS OF POST-FIRE LOGGING ON ELK HABITAT DURING THE FIRST 3 YEARS POST-FIRE: A CASE STUDY OF THE DOGRIB CREEK FIRE IN THE EAST SLOPE OF ALBERTA"
Hosted by the UofA Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society
 
Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 4:00 p.m., TBW 2 Tory Breezeway
Andrew E. Derocher, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"POLAR BEAR CONSERVATION IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT"
Northern Speaker's Series, sponsored by Circumpolar Students' Association
 
Thursday, November 3, 2005, 4:30 p.m., ETLC 1-007
Colleen Cassady St. Clair, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
"MEASURING THE SUITABILITY AND PERMEABILITY OF URBAN HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE"
Conserving Biodiversity in Northern Cities, sponsored by ERSC
 

News from the Chair

Job Ops
Check out internal job advertisements at http://www.careers.ualberta.ca/
Check out external job advertisements by clicking here.
 
Malaspina University College, Nanaimo - Tier II CRC in Ecology or Coastal Research
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran - PDF in Gene Transformation in Plants
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran - Associate Professors 
 /Professors in Genomics
Cornell University - Postdoctoral Associate in Entomology
University of Arizona - PDF several positions
University of British Columbia - Assistant Professor in Terrestrial Animal Ecology
University of California, Davis - Assistant Professor, Plant Biology
University of Manitoba - Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Vertebrate Biology
University of Manitoba - Sessional Instructor in Physiology and Introductory Biology

News from the Associate Chair Research

NSERC Extends International Polar Year Deadline
The deadline for the submission of proposals in support of International Polar Year
(IPY) projects has been extended to November 28, 2005, as a result of the recent
federal announcement of further funding to support Canada's participation in IPY.
 
ACA Grants in Biodiversity 
Information and application forms for this year’s competition for the ACA Grants in
Biodiversity are available on the website www.biology.ualberta.ca/biodiversity/.
This grant program is sponsored by the Alberta Conservation Association, and has
been established to increase knowledge of flora and fauna in Alberta, and to
support Alberta-based research. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are
invited to submit applications outlining proposals for research studies to be done in
Alberta. Any area of interest relevant to biodiversity will be considered.
 
Biological Sciences applicants are to submit their applications to Peggy Poholko
in CW 405 by October 26, 2005. (Other applicants, click here.) The Department
will obtain the appropriate signatures and return the application to you in time for
you to meet the ACA Grants in Biodiversity deadline of November 4th. It will be
your responsibility to photocopy the signed application for the November deadline.
For more information about the grants, contact Margaret Foxcroft at
m.foxcroft@ualberta.ca 
 
Completed, signed copies of the application should be handed in to CW 405 before
4:15 pm on November 4th.
 
Department Deadlines for Grants and Proposals 
Click here for details and RSO/agency deadlines
November 1 - AHFMR Internal Allocations - Visiting Lecturer, Postdoctoral Fellow Recruitment
November 14 - NSERC - Special Research Opportunity - International Polar Year
No Deadline NSERC Research Partnership Agreements with Canadian Departments and Agencies
No Deadline Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Open Deadline Canadian Health Services Research Foundation - Career Re-orientation Award
Open Deadline ICORE Visiting Professor Grants
 
Current Research Notices Click here  

News from the Associate Chair Graduate Studies

Dr. Marion Elder Grant Fellowship
Value: $9,000.00
Deadline: Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Eligibility: At the time of application, the female candidate must be enrolled in a full-time course of studies at any level of a masters or doctoral program, except the first year of a first masters program. One of her letters of reference must be provided by her graduate supervisor. All else being equal, preference will be given to the holder of an Acadia University degree. For more information, please visit:
 
Dr. Alice E. Wilson Awards
Value: $5,000.00
Deadline: Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Description: To assist women doing refresher work, specialized study or retraining in new techniques applicable to their field.  Special consideration will be given to candidates returning to study after a few years.  For more info, please visit:
 
CAGS 2005 International Conference
Reminder: The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) is holding its 2005 International Conference: Challenges to Innovation in Graduate Education from November 2-5, 2005 in Toronto. For conference details, visit
 
Scholarship Opportunity
Douglas McRorie Memorial Scholarship from the Agricultural Institute of Canada Foundation. Visit www.aic.ca/about/foundation_initiatives.cfm for details.

News from the Associate Chair Undergraduate Studies

Training and Workshops

Orientation to the University
All new and recently hired Academic and Support Staff are invited to attend an orientation to the university on Tuesday, November 22. This workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. More information can be found at www.hrs.ualberta.ca/orientation. Registration is required; please go to
Lunch and Learn
Sponsored by Health Promotion & WorkLife Services, the Lunch & Learn sessions take place in the Heritage Lounge at Athabasca Hall from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Free, bring your lunch.
October 27 - How to Be More Assertive
 
Computer Training on Campus
The schedules for the Technology Training Centre, Academic Information & Communication Technologies (formerly CNS) and the Libraries are available for the August - December courses. Outlines and registration information are available online at the following: www.ualberta.ca/training; www.ualberta.ca/webct; 
 
The Learning Shop - Fall Course Schedule Now On-line
www.learningshop.ualberta.ca
The Learning Shop is a searchable website listing professional development opportunities involving numerous learning service providers across campus. Available to academic and support staff, The Learning Shop lets users search for courses by category, date, or learning provider. Under the leadership of Staff Learning & Development, a project team developed this one-stop shopping resource in the form of a comprehensive calendar for information regarding learning & development opportunities. It is updated frequently, so make sure to check back often.  

Department Classifieds

1999 GMC Jimmy for Sale
Extremely clean, gently driven. All power, black on black 2 door. Life time warranty Good Year tires, keyless entry alarm & auto command. Baby coming - sacrifice at $7,500. Call 221-4746.
 
Truck for Sale
Do you need a truck for fieldwork (or any other reason)? 1990 Ford Ranger. Short cab, 2wd, 2.9l V6, Automatic, inc. canopy, box liner, and stereo. 225 000km. $2400 obo. Contact Eric at elamb@ualberta.ca
 
Freezer for Sale
I am moving and must sell a 7 cubic foot Beaumark freezer and am asking $150.00.  Cash and Carry. Call Pam at 2-3290 or e-mail
 
House/Cat Sitter Wanted
House & Cat sitter needed for December 23 - January 8. Comfortable, spacious house near University; all conveniences. Phone 461-1856 evenings.
 
Honey in the Mornin', Honey in the Evenin', Honey at Suppertime...
Honey for sale in 2, 6, 10 or 15-pound pails, $2.50 per pound. Contact Gerald at 434-9068 in the evenings or by e-mail at gerald.hilchie@ualberta.ca 
 
Furnished House for Rent
For 4-6 months starting January 2006, the house is in McKernan and a 20-minute walk to BioSci. Contact Susan Hannon at 2-7544 or sue.hannon@ualberta.ca

Teaching News

Do You Need Computer Lab Space?
If your course requires computer lab space for the second term, I need to know the specific dates and times when needed. Deadline for submission is November 1st. Please indicate whether pc or MAC is needed. A site license is required for use on all departmental and CNS lab space. If the department or university does not hold this site license, you must obtain it before the term begins. Please contact Maggie Haag at 2-1262 or e-mail mag.haag@ualberta.ca
 
BioSci Teaching Chat Group
The teaching chat group meets at noon on the second Wednesday of the month to discuss perennial teaching challenges and their potential solutions. The group meets in Z708 and anyone who teaches is welcome to attend. Bring your lunch; tasty supplements will be provided.   

Teacher Training and Initiatives Archive
Click here for archived columns and articles.
 
Check out what's happening at the University Teaching Services - go to: www.ualberta.ca/~uts

On/Off Campus News and Notices

United Way Activities
Quilt Raffle
Betty-Anne Jansen from Planning & Infrastructure has made a quilt 66" x 78" with a 100% cotton top and back and it is being raffled off. Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00, available from United Way Committee members or by contacting Betty-Anne Jansen at 2-2469 or betty.anne.jansen@ualberta.ca. The quilt and tickets will be in SUB and HUB in the coming weeks.
 
Department of Music Halloween Special
A variety of organ repertoire played by students, faculty and guests of the UofA's Department of Music takes place on Monday, October 31 during the  Noon Hour Organ Recital at the Arts Building/Convocation Hall. Free admission.
 
Road Map for Nanotechnology Industry
The International Congress of Nanotechnology will meet this year in San Francisco from October 31 - November 4 where the latest research and development in nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, nanophotonics, nanobiotechnology,nanomedicine, nanoethics, education, environmental, societal and health and safety implications, to nanotech venture capital investment and technology joint venture will be discussed. To view a partial list of speakers, please visit our web site:
 
Inside/OUT 2005/2006 Speakers' Series
All meetings take place from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. in 7-152 Education North, unless noted otherwise. The Speakers' Series is sponsored by APIRG, Office of the Dean of Students, UofA Bookstore, and the Department of Educational Policy Studies. 
November 2, Dr. Katherine Allen, Professor of Family and Women's Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, presents "Losing Community: When the Lesbian Poster Family Breaks Up".
For information on Inside/OUT, please contact Kris Wells at kwells@ualberta.ca or Marjorie Wonham at mwonham@ualberta.ca
 
Parkland Institute 9th Annual Fall Conference
The Parkland Institute's Annual Fall Conference, The Alberta We Want - In Canada and the World, takes place from November 18-20. For  more information visit http://www.ualberta.ca/parkland
 
7th Annual Neuroscience Research Day
Tuesday, November 22, starting at 12:00 p.m. in TELUS 236/238. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Phillip Gardiner, University of Manitoba. Dr. Gardiner is CRC in Physical Activity and Health Studies, the Director of the Health Leisure & Human Performance Research Institute and an Adjunct Professor at the UofA Department of Physiology. In addition to the keynote talk "How do motoneurones know if they are active or sedentary?" the program also includes short talks from students - including some from the University of Calgary - that will cover a range of Neuroscience topics. Poster presentations and refreshments will follow in the Timms Centre. ***We are currently accepting abstracts for poster presentations. Please be advised that there is a limit to the number of posters that will be accepted. Send your abstracts directly to dave.hayes@ualberta.ca and expect a confirmation email.

This Week's Funny

True or False?
1. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
2. Alfred Hitchcock didn't have a belly button.
3. A pack-a-day smoker will lose approximately two teeth every ten years.
4. People do not get sick from cold weather; it's from being indoors a lot more.
5. When you sneeze, all bodily functions stop, even your heart!
6. Only 7 per cent of the population is left-handed.
7. Forty people are sent to the hospital for dog bites every minute.
8. The average person over 50 will have spent five years waiting in lines.
9. The toothbrush was invented in 1498.
10. The average housefly lives for one month.
11. 40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year.
12. A coat hanger is 44 inches long when straightened.
13. The average computer user blinks seven times a minute.
14. Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than at any other time of day.
15. The only two animals that can see behind themselves without turning their heads are the rabbit and the parrot.
16. Most of us have eaten a spider in our sleep.
17. The real reason ostriches stick their head in the sand is to search for water.
18. In most television commercials advertising milk, a mixture of white paint and a little thinner is used in place of the milk.
19. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle built in 1903 used a tomato can for a carburetor.
20. If colouring weren't added to Coca-Cola, it would be green.
 
Answers: They are all true...now go back and think about # 16.