BGSU Zoom News

Monday, January 9, 2017

Huber publishes on food coma in fruit flies | Diversity/Inclusion leadership candidate forums

Robert Huber

Huber probes tiny world of the fruit fly to discover sleep/eating/activity connection

The humble fruit fly has proved to be a fruitful research subject for BGSU neuroscientist Dr. Robert Huber and colleagues from Scripps Research Institute in Florida and elsewhere. The collaborators’ research into their 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.

The Scripps study was one of Huber’s projects as a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., last year. As an expert in computational ethology, he uses computer technology to obtain meaningful numbers from complex systems — in this case, capturing and precisely recording the tiny Drosophilas’ behavior related to eating, activity levels and sleep.

The cause of the food coma turned out to be protein and salt, along with the time of day the food was consumed. Surprisingly, sugar did not seem to play a role, according to the study. The results of the experiments Huber conducted with lead researcher Dr. William Ja of Scripps and his team were reported in more than 200 newspapers around the world.

The scientists will now look more deeply at the brain structures that induce the insects to sleep after consuming protein and salt, and test theories about why sleep at that time would be beneficial.

Wilderness First Responder Certification - The Blade

Meet candidates for assistant vp for equity, diversity and inclusion/Title IX coordinator

The three finalists for the new position of assistant vice president for equity, diversity and inclusion/Title IX coordinator will present their open forums on campus Jan. 12, 17 and 18. All forums will be held from 3-3:45 p.m. in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union Theater (Room 206).

Each candidate will address the question: “How would you design/develop a diversity and inclusion strategic plan for BGSU?” There will be time for questions and answers following their presentations.

View the position description, the candidates’ curriculum vitae and links to evaluation forms on the Student Affairs website

January 12
Donna Palmer, J.D., assistant dean for academic success, University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio

January 17
Sharon Perry-Fantini, Ph.D., assistant vice president for equity, access, opportunity, Tiffin University, Tiffin, Ohio

January 18
Jennifer Pizio, Ph.D., former dean of students, Mercy College, Toledo, Ohio

Disability Services renamed

The Office of Disability Services has been renamed the Office of Accessibility Services to better reflect its mission. The website address (http://www.bgsu.edu/disability-services.html), phone number (419-372-8495) and email (dss@bgsu.edu) remain the same.

The office is also now coordinating services for both the Bowling Green and BGSU Firelands campuses.

IN BRIEF

Congratulations to the incoming cohort of the Bowling Green Leadership Academy. The 16-member group of faculty and staff will spend the next five months developing their skills and applying them to helping the University achieve its strategic goals.

Bowling Green Mayor Richard Edwards and the city’s Human Relations Commission invite the BGSU community to participate in the 28th annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Friday (Jan. 13), beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Wood County District Public Library.

Read it all In Brief