The contribution of biological sciences to the learning experience of BGSU students, both in STEM-specific programs as well as in the general education of non-science majors, is evidenced by our class enrollments. This fall, we had over 6,200 students enrolled in our courses. These numbers are only possible due to the quality of our programs and the commitment of our faculty. Please, join me in thanking our faculty for their commitment to our students and BGSU!

The national and international recognition of our research programs and scholarly activities is one of the key elements of our success. Over the years, our research programs have become essential sources for experiential learning and research experiences for our undergraduates, and the foundation of our graduate program. Furthermore, our research foci on the Great Lakes, water quality, microbiology, ecology and conservation biology, marine and aquatic sciences, and neuroscience, support a new generation of BGSU graduates committed to the public good.

Just to give you a few examples of exciting research developed in our department: Our department is dedicated to Great Lakes and Watershed Studies, with faculty focusing on interdisciplinary research on environmental and health issues associated with the Great Lakes ecosystem. Two discovery-based undergraduate research programs (the Microbiology Small World Initiative and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Sea-Phages) provide students with direct research experiences in the discovery of new antibiotic-producing microbes and new viruses. Several labs use bioinformatic approaches to do research in agricultural pests, genome evolution, and environmental microbiology. All these initiatives provide a large number of undergraduate and graduate students with a premier learning environment based on experiential learning, undergraduate research activities, and graduate research.

Furthermore, our research has direct implications on societal issues associated with global environmental problems, health issues, agricultural impacts, and the future of college education, showing our commitment to the public good.

BGSU has identified the Center for Great Lakes and Watershed Studies as one of the key areas supported by the new Strategic Plan on “Focus on the Future.” Under this initiative, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Chris Ward, a new faculty who will join our team in January 2020 to provide expertise in bioinformatics and environmental microbiology. We also thank Patrick L. and Debra Scheetz Ryan and the Ryan Family Foundation, who donated funds for the acquisition of the RV Ziggy, a new BGSU research vessel that will support our research on Lake Erie.

We continue providing avenues for experiential learning in areas of high student demand. Our marine and aquatic specialization represents a unique undergraduate program in Ohio. A new Undergraduate Marine and Aquatic Research Lab is being renovated to offer undergraduate students directed research experiences in this area. Furthermore, we have offered field courses, both in the U.S. and abroad, that provided undergraduate students with superb experiential learning activities during the Summer and Winter terms. A field trip to Curaçao and a biology/geology field trip to the Galapagos Islands have been some of our students’ favorite options.

A final note of thanks goes to all of you, alumni and friends of the department, who in many ways support our department, but in particular our students. We have numerous undergraduate and graduate scholarships that have been established by people like you, who are committed to BGSU biology and the education of our future generations. We have 18 undergraduate scholarships, and this year we will offer 10 $1,000 student awards for undergraduate and graduate research. If you would like to continue supporting our programs, visit the bgsu.edu/give website and enter “biology” to see our fund options. We are glad that you keep up to date with our faculty and students’ achievements, and hope you visit us soon.

Once a Falcon always a Falcon!
Juan L. Bouzat, Ph.D.
Chair and professor, Biological Sciences