SUNY Geneseo Biology Department

Join in learning about and celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Biologists during .

Today's Spotlight is on Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Stewart.

is marking Day on June 21st by sharing two visualizations of the increasing temperatures in New York compared to the average temperature between 1961-2010.

Temperatures have risen significantly in the lifetimes of our current students as a result of burning fossil fuels.

Rising temperatures threaten human health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of the other organisms and habitats we study as biologists, and that we depend on.

We invite you to explore and at showyourstripes.info

May 22nd is the International Day of Biological Diversity. At we are studying and researching a wide range of biological diversity every day. Visit our website https://www.geneseo.edu/biology and check us out!

Lance is a graduating major! Way to go, Lance!
We can't wait to see how fast you accomplish your goals beyond

🏆AWARD SZN🏆

After taking first in BOTH the 200m and 400m, Lance Jensen was named the Most Outstanding Performance for the 2024 SUNYAC Championships.

Congratulations!

We're in the last stretch of the semester, !

Good luck on Final Exams and Projects!
You can do this!

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month mean to you?

Dr J: To me, I think appreciating my roots daily is important, and constricting the celebration of my culture to just one month a year on the basis that I’m a minority isn’t right. As a Buddhist, I believe that everyone is equal, despite their background, race, gender, or ethnicity. Embracing equality and acceptance of others is the bigger picture here, which we should all strive to incorporate into our daily lives.
Dr Y: AAPI Month is an acknowledgment and recognition that Asians belong here and we’re also American, despite what people may think. I’ve experienced the narrative that we’re foreigners even if we’re not. This month proves to the world that we can and should be here, proud of our Asian and American heritage simultaneously.

How do you think your heritage shaped the person you are today?

Dr J: Like I said before, Buddhism has played a major role in how I lead my life. As a practicing Buddhist, I am inspired to treat everyone equally. In some South Asian countries, we tend to put certain groups of people on a pedestal and not care about the rest, which is the opposite of what I believe in.
Dr Y: My heritage has shaped me in a lot of ways. The Importance of Family and Community has been a vital aspect of my life, which is different from the typical “American Dream” idea– working Independently instead of together. My culture is reflected in how I live my life, such as working with other people and cooperatively for the greater good.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in Biology? What drove you to conduct the research you do?

Dr J: Growing up in Sri Lanka, I had to take a high school exam for higher education, where only the top 1% of testees could make it to Medical School. Unfortunately, as it’s a third-world country, many people couldn't afford this kind of education, so I turned to Biology. I fell in love with molecular biology and biochemistry, but I knew if I wanted to pursue it further and leave an impact on the science world, I would have to come to America. In Sri Lanka, I felt like it wasn’t a fair system in Academics, and everything was chosen based on previous connections. In America however, I felt like I could accomplish anything if I worked hard, which I still believe. I completed my PhD at the University of Rochester and decided to continue with Transposable Elements in Genetics research alongside students in hopes of inspiring them.
Dr Y: Growing up , I was always pushed to do well in science and math by my parents. While I enjoyed these subjects in high school, it wasn’t until college that I developed an identity as a science person. I also did not originally set out to pursue a career in teaching, discovering my love for teaching students, and striving to shape them to become better people and working members of society, after focusing purely on ecology research. I still find research to be rewarding, though. One of my current research areas is in community ecology, surrounding the interactions between species and how these interactions are influenced by the environment. In general, my lab studies complex systems applying various modeling and field approaches to study them.

Over the past couple of years, there has been an exponential rise in hate-filled actions toward the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. What does showing up to support the AAPI community, both internally and externally, look like for you?
Dr J: I’m a very quiet and reserved person, and not very comfortable with speaking in front of large groups of people. However, I feel like I help my community in my way by doing my part of being a role model. I want to set an example for others to follow, especially those who identify with my background and skin color. I hope to inspire them that they can do it too, and their voices are just as important as anyone else's. I foster this sort of bravery in my children, which I hope they can pass on to others and create this cycle of positive influence and kindness to others.
Dr Y: I express myself through working with students, supporting them in ways they may not have been before. As Dr. Jamburuthugoda said, I’m an introverted person so I don’t tend to talk about my experiences. I have seen personal growth in becoming able to talk about my story and sharing it with others helps my community overall, as I bring our struggles to the light and give our voices exposure. We both do it in our own way, which is perfectly fine.

Is there anything else you would like to add? Lab, background story, etc.

Dr J: I want people to harbor a goal in life, with a greater purpose. Being kind to others will pay off in the long run, and it would make this world a better place. If there’s one thing you take away from this, it’s to know that if you never give up, you will see results eventually. Holding to yourself and preserving in your goal will leave an impact on the world that you might not even be aware of. Contributing to society in this way will not only benefit others but also make you happy, unlike sticking to material and worldly goods. Live a fulfilling life where people will remember you for what you have done, and not for what you had.
Dr Y: I want students to know that they have more power than they think they do and that anyone can have an amazing impact on the world.

If you are graduating at the end of Spring or Fall semester 2024, Congratulations!

We’d appreciate your help with our efforts to improve our work in the Biology Department and to help us stay in touch. Would you please answer the following survey? It should take less than ten minutes to complete. Please contact me ([email protected]) with any questions about the survey.

https://forms.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=T5POAmoGAE24KM7bp89PeZfqM_S-FO5PlW0wiktcmO5URURaUTVCODIzSFlUWTlNSDYxRzI5MERaMC4u

Excited about research in biology? Check out the this Friday 2:30-3:30 in the ISC. You can visit research labs and learn more about what they do!

Then apply to get involved! Applications for research opportunities are open until May 3rd. Check out: https://www.geneseo.edu/biology/research_and_internships

Calling all alumni, students and friends of . We can't continue to offer the fantastic opportunities for student research, travel, scholarships and more without your help. Please consider a donation to the Biology Department Fund during Geneseo's Great Give Back. Any amount is appreciated - we would love to have your support!


Link to our donation page: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/GENGGB24/team/Biology
or Text GENGGB2440 to 71777
Msg & data rates may apply

Wishing you a Happy Earth Day from !

Today is a good day to think about the actions, big and small, that we can take to make this planet more liveable for everyone!

Happy to our friends .geneseo

The librarians, books, databases and research help from our campus librarians is priceless! Thank you from

What does International Day of Women and Girls in Science and Women's History Month mean to you as a woman in science yourself?

I think that recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women throughout history is crucial in understanding the progress our society has made. I deeply respect their perseverance, and their accomplishments continue to inspire new generations of women to pursue their dreams.

Being a woman in STEM is challenging, as the odds are typically stacked against us. What inspired you to pursue a career in science, and biology specifically?

My upbringing was rather unique, as my father was a biology professor, with female collaborators and colleagues. Growing up surrounded by successful women scientists, I believed that I also could also succeed. Upon my arrival at Geneseo, I observed a stark gender disparity in the science departments, with only one tenured female faculty member across all four departments. This motivated me to work harder to strive to change this ratio.

How do you hope to inspire other women to do the same, and potentially rise to be in a position like you (being Chair of the Biology Department)?

At SUNY Geneseo, given the student population is majority female, so the environment should be more comfortable for women in the field than in the past. Currently, I am committed to improving my teaching in ways that foster inclusivity and create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone in my classroom. Additionally, I work to support women faculty members, Serving as Chair of the Biology Department has many challenges, and one is to see more women advance through the ranks.

https://geneseoknights.com/news/2024/3/9/national-champion-lance-jensen-wins-the-400m-at-ncaa-s.aspx

For this final week of honors Henrietta Lacks. She is the source of one of the most important cell lines still used today in medical research. However, her story is a lesson in how African Americans were taken advantage of and harmed by the medical community in the past, and how relationships must be healed, and bias in the medical community must still be overcome to allow for equitable health care for all.

In celebration of will be highlighting some of the contributions of Black Americans to Biology throughout history and today.

Today we celebrate entomologist Dr. Margaret Collins, a field biologist who studied termites in South America while a research associate at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. She was a barrier-breaking scientist when women and POC in field science were especially rare.

Happy Darwin Day 2024! Today we celebrate the birthday of Charles Darwin and his contributions to our understanding of life on earth. He was the same age as many of our graduating senior students (22yrs) when he departed as the ship's naturalist on the HMS Beagle!

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Our Biology Department is filled with amazing women teaching, researching and leading the way in their fields. Let's continue the celebration this week -if you see one of these women this week, thank them for all they do!

In celebration of will be highlighting some of the contributions of Black Americans to Biology throughout history until today.

Today's biologist highlight is Dr. Charles Henry Turner, a remarkable Animal Behaviorist who pioneered studies of animal sensory biology, homing behavior, and other animal behaviors, all while working as a high school science teacher (because Dr. Booker T Washington could not afford to hire both Turner and George Washington Carver at the Tuskeegee Institute!)

Welcome back for the Spring 2024 semester! is so happy you are here and we're ready to learn and do science with you! Let's do this!

This Saturday at 7pm see the movie "The Martian" in ISC 115.
Pizza 🍕 at 6:45pm
Sponsored by the Biology Department

Applications are open for Spring 2023 directed study research opportunities in Biology faculty labs right now! If you have time in your schedule, and interest in research, be sure to apply no later than Jan 3rd!

ULA/ULI Spring 2024 opportunities!

Study abroad in Ghana!
Information sessions listed below, come and join us !

Last Friday the committee from hosted a "Trick or Treat for Classes". Students learned about courses being offered next semester from the faculty teaching them. Good preparation for upcoming registration!

In honor of Heritage Month we have an interview with Professor Isidro Bosch:

1. What brought you to do science? Why Aquatic and Marine Biology specifically?

I grew up by the Ocean in Cuba, and I used to always swim by the beach there. I was fascinated by the sea urchins that they kept in tanks, and I wondered as a child how they got there in the first place. Overall, my curiosity was what really drove me to become passionate about Aquatic and Marine Biology and I knew it’s what I wanted to pursue in the future. My father and cousin were also big inspirations, as my father had a distinct interest in Biology and my older Cousin took me scuba diving many times. After completing my Marine Biology program in college and finishing my Ph.D. in Antarctica, I knew I had made the right decision as I continued to learn more about marine biology.

2. What are ways that you honor your hispanic heritage in your daily life?

I think one of the main ways I honor my heritage is by being myself and being proud of who I am. I’m a product of my heritage, and I’d like to say I’m also very connected with my culture. I enjoy listening to Hispanic/Cuban music, especially Bad Bunny, and I regularly eat Cuban food. I try to recognize and remember how my Cuban heritage has shaped me into the person I am today and understand how much Hispanic culture has been prominent in American history. I take pride in knowing that my culture has and still continues to influence American culture.

3. Can you describe your experience in higher education as a Latinx individual?

I’d say I was lucky in that aspect. In pursuing my higher education, I didn’t have much of a difficult time that other people may have had. While I do think there is room for improvement in America regarding marginalized groups, I got every opportunity that I wanted. Life isn’t easy, but you have to learn to overcome it. Geneseo is very friendly and welcoming, so adjusting to the environment here went smoother than expected for me. I think that anyone can be successful if given the right opportunities and having faith in themselves.

4. What are some hardships you have faced and how did you overcome them?

Most of my hardships in life stem from my early childhood with being a Cuban Refugee in America. My sisters and I didn’t know English at the time, so we dealt with many cultural issues growing up. The school I went to in New Jersey was a very bad environment, with constant Gang fights and racial tension, so my first year in the States was a struggle. I tried hard to fit in, but no matter what I did I wasn’t accepted anywhere. The other Cuban kids would bully me and leave me out because I wasn’t “Cuban Enough”, and the wealthier, smarter kids didn’t want to include me in anything either. It was a very lonely and daunting experience. Basketball and other sports helped me cope, but my main source of support during these times was my Family. The strength of my family helped me overcome my struggles, and I was lucky that I had them with me through thick and thin.

5. Why do you think it is so important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

I think it’s important to recognize that Spanish culture has existed in the USA for a long time, and it has influenced many aspects of our pop culture today. People should remember and become aware of that. We need to accept that America is made up of many different cultures and backgrounds, and embracing that can help unite all of us together. I’m optimistic that people have the power to do so much, and one day all of us will be unified. For now, though, remembering Hispanic lives and our culture is a step in the right direction

Come join us 🎃
On behalf of the bio-diversity committee for our upcoming "Trick or Treat for Courses" event.
The event will take place on Friday, October 20th from 3:30-4:30PM in the ISC atrium. There, we will have professors around the atrium so you can discuss next semester's biology course offerings with them.
There will even be course bingo for students to win a prize!

Your faculty are busy preparing for the Fall2023 semester. We want to know:
What class are you looking forward to the most?

Share with us here!