Department of
Biological Sciences
Eastern Illinois University
Fall 2014
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
HOMECOMING EVENTS Saturday, October 25, 2014
10:30a.m. - 1:30p.m. Alumni Tent City located at the Practice Fields South of O’Brien Stadium. All colleges will be repre-sented at this annual tailgating event. Be sure to stop by the College of Sciences tent for a complimentary lunch.
1:30p.m. Homecoming Football Game at O’Brien Stadium. Come cheer on EIU as we take on Tennessee State.
For a complete list of events for EIU Homecoming 2014
Biological Sciences Retirees
Several faculty members of the de-partment of Biological Sciences re-tired at the end of last year. Retirees include Janice Coons (Plant Physiolo-gist), Nancy Coutant (Botanist) Kip McGilliard (Animal Physiologist), Andy Methven (Mycologist) and Henry Owen (Plant Geneticist). Each of these individuals contributed to the teaching and training of multi-tudes of undergraduates and gradu-ate students over the past 10-25 years. If you would like to communi-cate with these individuals, e-mail addresses are available on the Bio-logical Science home page in the Fac-ulty and Staff section. The depart-ment is currently conducting an in-ternational search for a plant geneti-cist.
Made possible due to a recent donation by
the Lumpkin Family of Mattoon, Thomas
Canam, Ph.D. in the Department of Bio-
logical Sciences, is leading an effort to
both grow plants for biofuel studies as well
as study wildlife dynamics on a 120 acre
plot of land near Charleston IL. This ef-
fort will provide resources to determine the feasibility of certain grasses
as biofuels as well as provide research opportunities for both graduates
and undergraduate students. In addition, class projects will monitor
how these grasses interact with other organisms in the environment.
The department is working with FDC Enterprises, Inc. to plant grasses
that both produce biofuels as well as provide a rich environment for oth-
er organisms.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Canam’s research
Dr. Canam (left) with Grad-
uate Student Ryan Kalenoski
Lumpkin Family Land Donation to
be Used for Biofuel Research and
Wildlife Studies
Steve Mullin Named Chief Editor of
Herpetologica and BBC Radio
Interview
Steve Mullin, Ph.D. was named Chief Edi-
tor of the Journal Herpetologica, the most
cited journal in this
discipline. Dr.
Mullin’s research
efforts were also
highlighted in an on-
site interviewed by a
reporter for the BBC
series entitled
“Nature” regarding his efforts at monitor-
ing brownsnake populations at Fox Ridge
State Park.
Click here to listen to the complete broadcast
Give a Gift Online Now! Make a difference in BIO. Your contributions can easily be made online and specifically earmarked for a variety of purposes that support the education and training of
our students.
Botany: Gifts to specifically support botanical programs,
its students, and its faculty.
Zoology: Gifts to support zoological programs.
Health Sciences: Gifts to specifically support the Pre-
Health Program, its students, and its faculty.
Environmental Biology: Gifts to specifically support the Environmental Biology Program, its students, and its
faculty.
Graduate Program: Gifts to specifically support the
Graduate Program, its students, and its faculty.
Undergraduate Program: Gifts to specifically support
the Undergraduate Program, its students, and its faculty.
Special Events: Gifts to support special events within
the department.
Community Outreach: Gifts to support many different initiatives of the department, including, but not limited to: faculty and student travel to presentations, registered student organization initiatives, and professional devel-
opment activities.
Facilities Support: Gifts directed to improve the depart-
ment's facilities, equipment and technology.
Scholarships and Awards: Gifts directed to provide deserving students with financial rewards for ex-cellence.
To give a gift online, click here
Biological Sciences Academic Year Snap-Shot Stats
12 faculty presented at conferences
32 students presented at conferences
62 faculty publications
9 publications with or by students
33 actively funded external grants
5 students worked on federal grants
16 students worked on state-regional grants
11 students worked on internal grants (CFR, PFR,
IRIS)
102 students enrolled in independent study or under-
graduate research courses
12 BIO Honors Program research projects
Titan Arum Blooms Again
For the fourth time in eight years, the Titan
Arum, or “corpse flower,” bloomed. This ra-
re plant, native to Sumatra attracted a large
number of visitors. A live video feed, blog
and public viewing was organized by Steve
Malehorn, our Greenhouse Manager. This
two-day event hosted over 800 visitors to
view and smell the flower housed in the
Thut Greenhouse. There were 6,000 view-
ers over the Internet through the live feed.
Heartland Highways Features The Whiteside Garden
A recent episode of Heartland High-ways was broadcast featuring the Whiteside Garden and includes in-terviews with faculty, students and friends of the garden. Included is an interview with Wes Whiteside.
Individuals interviewed included (in order of appearance) Dr. Janice Coons, Nancy Coutant, Kathy Pickle (Dr. Tom Canam's wife), Dakota Radford (former EIU student) and Dr. Wes Whiteside. Dr. Whiteside partnered with EIU in 2010 to ensure the garden will be maintained in the future. The Whiteside Garden is a sustainable centerpiece for EIU and the community.
Click here to view the entire broadcast