Watershed momentAs part of Gov. Mike DeWine's H2Ohio initiative, researchers from multiple disciplines at BGSU are studying how effective wetlands can be in the state's fight against toxic algal blooms.
Turning the tideBowling Green State University research in Lake Erie and Lake Victoria aims to improve water quality of the freshwater lakes by adding to the knowledge of what makes algal blooms toxic.
Amber Gombash '15 finishing up first year of residency during a pandemic Bowling Green State University alumna Amber Gombash ’15 is rounding out her first year of a three-year residency split between MetroHealth System Emergency Room and the Cleveland Clinic. Gombash received a Bachelor of Science in biology from BGSU, minored in chemistry and was a member of the Honors College.
BGSU researchers receive NOAA grant for aquaponics Three Bowling Green State University faculty members, Drs. Kevin Neves, Jonathan Kershaw and Fei Weisstein, were awarded a $212,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve consumer acceptance of the aquaponics system. The grant work will span two years.
BGSU christens new research vessel, 'RV Ziggy'BGSU christened a new research vessel that will support the University’s water quality research efforts on Lake Erie through the Center for Great Lakes and Watershed Studies. The vessel was made possible by a generous gift from BGSU alumni Patrick L. and Debra Scheetz Ryan and the Ryan Family Foundation.
Dr. Kevin McCluney part of $780,000 NSF grant studyDr. Kevin McCluney, assistant professor of biological sciences at BGSU, is part of a research team that has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant. The research focuses on the extent to which birds and their migratory patterns, wind and climate link temporary wetlands across the Great Plains.
First paper published by center reveals daily cycle of cyanobacteriaThe first scientific paper to come out of the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health “a day in the life of a Microcystis bloom,” said Dr. George Bullerjahn, director of the center and professor of research excellence in biology at Bowling Green State University.
BGSU part of team to receive funding through Competitive Research Program HAB AwardsBowling Green State University is part of a team receiving funding for “Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms: Portable Tin Detection Technology to Support Great Lakes Decision Support Tools.” The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced recipients of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program Harmful Algal Bloom Awards Oct. 1.
BGSU alumna is fighting invasive species in FloridaOne of the main reasons Chelsea Bohaty ’13 chose to attend BGSU was because of its extensive marine lab. Today, Bohaty works as a biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She is involved with the biological control program, where she leads the yearly alligatorweed flea beetle biocontrol project.
McNair Scholars hone their skills as they prepare to apply to graduate schoolsTwelve Bowling Green State University undergraduates are a significant step closer to graduate school after a summer of intensive, independent research and scholarship followed by participation in the 25th annual Undergraduate Research Conference. The students are part of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.
BGSU's first-year students on the moveNearly 6,000 students, including more than 3,600 first-year students, moved into Bowling Green State University residence halls last week. The Class of 2023 is BGSU’s most academically prepared group of new students. This class is trending to have the highest GPA in University history at 3.5.
Fighting back against the emerald ash borerBGSU postdoctoral researcher Dr. Rachel Kappler is continuing her dissertation research of ash trees and emerald ash borers to determine the trees’ possible recovery from this invasive beetle.
Bouzat research team sheds light on penguin evolutionDr. Juan Bouzat, a professor in BGSU’s Department of Biological Sciences, is part of an international research team studying the evolution of penguins. He is a co-author of a study published in the journal of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution that demonstrates the importance of island formation in the diversification of penguins.
BGSU bee research creates buzz about urban agriculture, climate changeA new study by BGSU scientists reports that urbanization might impact bees’ body temperatures and water content and possibly contribute to the decline in bee populations. The research by Justin Burdine, a BGSU doctoral candidate in biology, and Dr. Kevin McCluney appears in a recent article published in Scientific Reports.
George Bullerjahn named Distinguished Research Professor Dr. George Bullerjahn, professor of research excellence in biological sciences, was named a Distinguished Research Professor by the BGSU Board of Trustees at its Feb. 22 meeting. He will be recognized again at the Faculty Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 16.
Maran to bring science communication skills to Knauss marine policy fellowshipBowling Green State University Ph.D. biology student Audrey Maran was chosen for the highly competitive John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. She will serve for a year as a communication specialist in the National Sea Grant office, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
BGSU to lead national research effort to protect freshwater lakes from toxic algal bloomsBGSU has been tapped to lead national research into understanding and preventing toxic algal blooms that plague portions of the Great Lakes and impact freshwater sources around the world. The BGSU Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health was founded with a $5.2 million federal grant.
BGSU researchers hope to turn dredge into useful resource for farmersBowling Green State University’s Drs. Shannon Pelini, Louise Stevenson and Angélica Vázquez-Ortega and Dr. Megan Rúa of Wright State University are teaming up on two Ohio EPA grants to study the effects of dredge on crops. Each grant is worth $50,000 and funded through the Lake Erie Protection Fund.
BGSU faculty bond, form friendshipsWhen this group of friends and BGSU faculty gets together for “Nerd Night,” it’s all about their special camaraderie and mutual support. All have successfully mounted the tenure and promotion ladder to the level of associate professor, the first hurdle in a faculty member’s academic career, and have cheered on one another’s achievements.
Ocean pioneer presents 'The World Is Blue'National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle visits Bowling Green State University to share her pioneering work as one of the most well-known female oceanographers and the importance of ocean conservation. As this year’s McMaster Visiting Scientist, she will present “The World Is Blue” on Sept. 18.
In the footsteps of DarwinBowling Green State University students and faculty explored the geological and biological wonders of Ecuador’s Andes and Galápagos Islands this summer on a trip that took them from volcanoes through cloud forests to the islands where Darwin made his famed observations, tracing the natural and human impact on the environment.
Uptick in West Nile virus infections expected this mosquito seasonWest Nile virus already claimed its first Ohio victim of the season in July. More fatalities could follow — or not, according to Dr. Dan Pavuk, an insect biologist and lecturer in biological at BGSU. There have been five humans infected with West Nile virus this year, including one fatality.
Graduate student digs deep for algae solutionBowling Green State University graduate student Josephine Lindsey-Robbins is researching the role of “bugs” in composting dead plant material, turning it back into the soil and keeping its nitrogen and phosphorus in place. There, it can fertilize the soil instead of washing into lakes.
Educating abroadBGSU alumni Emily and Jared Hatch taught in India and Syria before settling in Daegu, South Korea, seven years ago. The Falcon Flames are raising their two daughters in the country they’ve come to think of as home.
Tracking harmful algae across continentsBGSU biology faculty members Drs. George Bullerjahn, Timothy Davis, Michael McKay and Jeffrey Miner, along with Dr. Kefa Otiso from geography, traveled to Kenya in April to meet with Kisii University faculty and students and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute to share knowledge about harmful algal blooms.
A new insight into the beetle-fungus symbiosisDr. Vipaporn Phuntamart, an associate professor in biological sciences at Bowling Green State University, and doctoral students Gayathri Beligala and Satyaki Ghosh contributed to the paper “Symbiont selection via alcohol benefits fungus farming by ambrosia beetles,” which was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
BGSU contributions inform decision to designate Lake Erie impairedOhio’s Environmental Protection Agency and Gov. John Kasich have designated the western basin of Lake Erie as an impaired waterway due to toxic algae. Drs. Tim Davis, George Bullerjahn and Michael McKay were part of the team that developed the criteria used to make this declaration.
Alumna named Miss Scuba InternationalBGSU alumna Brittany Novick shares ocean conservation message through professional opportunities with the National Marine Mammal Foundation and as Miss Scuba International. The foundation position also allows her to network with like-minded women around the world.
Semester at Sea changes how BGSU student ‘lives her life’Usually the only sharks or elephants that students encounter during their time at Bowling Green State University are the opposing teams’ mascots at sporting events. Not so for junior Allie Laber, who spent the fall semester at sea during one of the many study abroad programs the University offers students.
Finding a path to scientific discoveryThe Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence in STEM Education is one of two organizations nationwide to receive renewed funding from the Army Educational Outreach Program. The $200,000 grant will help increase the number of students participating in the Ohio Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, working with two area high schools.
Restoration Ecology students gain skills through service-learningThe grounds of University House, the official residence of the Bowling Green State University president, include a large, manicured lawn. But behind the green lawn is an equally important but less obviously tended space, a short-grass prairie that the University is carefully returning to its native state.
Sensing the importance of crayfish’s ability to smellBGSU graduate student Molly Beattie spent eight weeks this summer at a remote research station in northern Michigan, studying the habits of crayfish. Her field work, which examined how the diet of a crayfish predator might impact the behavior of crayfish, required long hours and intense attention to detail.
Toledo Public Schools, BGSU develop pathway for students to earn transfer creditsToledo Public Schools and BGSU have developed a pathway for TPS aerospace students to earn transfer credits to the University. The partnership will provide a seamless pathway between the Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo and associate and bachelor’s degree programs at BGSU.
BGSU biologists lead rapid response to surprise algae bloom in Maumee RiverBowling Green State University biologists led a rapid response to a surprise toxic algae bloom on the Maumee River in late September, collecting water samples and genetically identifying cyanobacteria from the Indiana line to Lake Erie to provide Ohio EPA and water quality managers crucial information.
BGSU students embrace, learn from other culturesAt this fall’s “Embracing Global Engagement: Internships, Service- and Experiential Learning Symposium,” nearly 50 students shared their experiences in oral and poster presentations. The winners were recognized at an Oct. 17 ceremony where they received an original piece of glass art presented by President Mary Ellen Mazey.
2017 Academy of Distinguished Alumni honored during HomecomingThe 2017 Academy of Distinguished Alumni ceremony was held on Oct. 12 in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Recognized were Gregory L. Forte ’76, Asim Husain ’95, Robert “Bob” B. Rothermel ’65, Julie A. Schmelzle ’86 and Dr. Tom Shehab ’90.
BGSU teams with Wood County to monitor mosquitoes The Wood County Health District received a $17,696 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to study mosquitoes. The health district contracted with BGSU to assist in its mosquito surveillance project. Dr. Dan Pavuk and two undergraduate biology students have been working on the project all summer.
Trustees set stage for fall semesterAt its final meeting of the academic year on June 22, the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees took steps to prepare for 2017-18. One college will begin the year with a new name that better expresses its mission and vision. The trustees approved the renaming of the College of Business Administration to simply the College of Business, which is broader and does not limit its identity.
Study shows Toledo water crisis may be linked to virus infectionBGSU biologists Drs. Michael McKay, the Patrick L. and Debra Scheetz Ryan Professor of Biology, and George Bullerjahn, Professor of Research Excellence, are part of a team whose research has discovered that a virus may have played a role in the 2014 Lake Erie toxic algae bloom.
BGSU graduate student studies roadkill as conservation tool BGSU student Lauren Jonaitis studies roadkill in the Oak Openings region as a tool to track what is happening and as a guide to improving planning and decision making. An ecology and conservation biology major from New York, Jonaitis has involved undergraduates in her research project.
Snyder, McLaughlin maintain high standardsUniversity Animal Facilities technicians Michael McLaughlin and Robert Snyder won the 2017 Classified Staff Team Award for their care and skill in maintaining facilities, enabling faculty and students to conduct animal research, and ensuring BGSU remains in compliance with federal regulations.
Class of 2017 Success Stories: Passion for biology fuels graduate’s career pathWilliam Sberna's passion for biology and support from a faculty mentor encouraged him to follow his research interests. His research into naturally occurring substances which counter antibiotic-resistant superbugs has provided positive results.
BGSU biology program on the hunt for phagesThe Bowling Green State University biology department is working with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to implement an introductory biology course that offers research experience. BGSU is one of 10 institutions invited to partner for the next five years with the HHMI.
A shell of an existenceBGSU biology graduate student Preston Thompson spent his winter break volunteering at El Parque Marino del Pacifico in Costa Rica, aiding marine wildlife. He was inspired to raise $10,000 for the organization to fund improvements to its facility so that it can help more turtles and wildlife in need.
Emeritus biology faculty member earns posthumous lifetime achievement awardDr. William Hann, a longtime BGSU biological sciences professor, had a history of helping others. His dedication to the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented posthumously at the Armed Services Blood Program’s annual meeting in October.
Blame 'food coma' on the brainBGSU neuroscientist Dr. Robert Huber and Scripps collaborators’ research into fruit fly behavior has helped expand our understanding of some important neurobiological connections between eating and sleep — including the infamous “food coma” felt after a big meal.
Belief in self served Duane ‘D.C.’ Crenshaw ’91 wellDuane “D.C.” Crenshaw learned a valuable lesson in 2008. That’s the message the Ohio native and former football player delivered to graduates of the colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education and Human Development during commencement Saturday morning at the Stroh Center.
Pelini ant research provides long-term look at effects of climate changeThe world of forest ants may provide a macrocosm of the complex reactions and interactions among species affected by global climate change, according to a research project involving BGSU biologist Dr. Shannon Pelini.
Wildschutte identifies natural weapons against antibiotic resistanceDr. Hans Wildschutte, biology, is co-author on a paper his eye on finding answers to the serious global issues of antibiotic resistance and novel drug discovery. The research in Wildschutte’s lab focuses on finding environmental bacteria that can kill one or multiple pathogens.
Princeton Review names BGSU a ‘green college’BGSU is among the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges, according to the 2016 Princeton Review Guide to 361 Green Colleges. The review chose the colleges for the seventh annual edition based on data from the company’s 2015-16 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning their commitment to the environment and sustainability.
Alexandra Patterson at Hunstanton Sea Life SanctuaryAlexandra Patterson, a senior at Bowling Green State University majoring in biology with specializations in marine biology and conservation ecology, spent her summer interning at the Sea Life Sanctuary in England and rescuing and rehabilitating common seals and gray seals on the coast of the North Sea.
Stephanie Maiorano living the aloha dream Stephanie Maiorano spent her summer working with dolphins at Sea Life Park Hawaii. Maiorano, who is majoring in marine biology at BGSU, interacted with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that were a part of some of the public programs offered at the park on the island of Oahu.
Cari Anne Ritzenthaler on research project in HawaiiBowling Green State University graduate student Cari Anne Ritzenthaler spent her summer almost 5,000 miles away from from northwest Ohio on an island that most people would describe as “paradise.” On the Big Island of Hawaii I conducted my master’s research, which involved me living there for three months.
New Faculty Athletics Representatives to carry on legacy of MeserveDr. Ray Schneider, an associate professor of sport management, and Dr. Donna Trautman, chair of the visual communications and technology education department, have been selected as BGSU’s next Faculty Athletics Representatives, following on the work of Dr. Lee Meserve, who has held the position for nearly 20 years.
Cracking the algae codeBGSU biologists Drs. George Bullerjahn and Michael McKay are taking their examination of toxic algal blooms to the genetic level, seeking to identify the conditions that signal the bacteria’s genes to produce toxins. Supported by a number of grants, they are working in Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay and the Maumee River.
Bullerjahn named Professor of Research ExcellenceFor making important contributions to the field of environmental microbiology that have helped position Bowling Green State University as a leader in this discipline in Great Lakes research, Dr. George Bullerjahn, department of biological sciences, was named a Professor of Research Excellence at the Faculty Excellence Awards Ceremony.
Bacterial drones vs. tumorsBGSU biologist Jill Zeilstra-Ryalls in Arts & Sciences is working with University of Wyoming researchers to develop a method to counter a cancer tumor’s ability to fool immune cells and deliver programmable nonpathogenic bacteria directly to the tumor.
A lifetime of achievementDr. Paul Moore, a professor of biological sciences, was honored with the Faculty Senate Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his scholarship and immense contributions to the academic life of the department and its students, the development of the marine biology and neuroscience programs, and to the Honors College.
First responders for algaeBGSU research sensors in Sandusky Bay are helping protect the Sandusky city water supply, according to “Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative,” a recently issued report by the Ohio Department of Higher Education on the results on learning how to deal with Lake Erie's harmful algal bloom problem.
Board approves new undergraduate majors, sets room and meal plan ratesAt its Feb. 19 meeting, the board of trustees approved three new undergraduate degrees, in forensic science; philosophy, politics, economics and law (PPEL); and biological sciences. The trustees also set room and meal plan rates for fiscal year 2017.
In pursuit of medicineA series of major moves early in life could cause a young child to withdraw and maybe not reach their potential. It also could have a detrimental impact on their development as a student. Or in the case of Neisha Medina, those transitions could serve as a platform for advancement, maturation and maximizing your potential. In her life, the miles traveled have created a motivated, committed and highly-focused student in pursuit of a career as a doctor.
Class of 2015 Success Stories: All SmilesSarah Jasinski has not let adversity or poverty deter her from reaching her goals.
The Vermilion, Ohio, native graduates Dec. 19 despite being told almost four years ago that she might not be successful in college. Not only did she finish in three and a half years, she also recently was accepted into dental school at The Ohio State University.
Butterfly buffetIn a small, warm room in the Life Sciences Building, rows of white mesh tepees housing monarch butterflies are lined up on tables. The fabled, orange and black insects are carefully tended and monitored by BGSU conservation biology students Paige Arnold, a second-year graduate student from Temperance, Mich., and Matthew Zach, a junior from Fairview Park, Ohio.
There’s no place like homeThe rain forest of Costa Rica presents a jungle-esque maze of dense vegetation, with the ground under it a snarl of exposed roots and heavily matted decaying plant material.
Bouzat on Darwin’s ‘One Long Argument’Feb. 12 is the birthday of two figures of great historical importance: Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. While Lincoln’s birthday is now observed with that of George Washington on Presidents’ Day, Darwin Day is celebrated by scientists and evolutionists around the world to honor the creator of a biological theory of evolution and the contributions of science to our understanding of the natural world.
BGSU recognizes 2018 10 Under 10 honoreesFrom basketball coaches and photographers, to environmentalists and advocates, leaders and visionaries, risk takers and dreamers, recent Falcon alumni are changing lives for the world. To honor the accomplishments of our recent alumni, the BGSU 10 Under 10 Award was established. The 2018 class was honored during Homecoming Oct. 12.
