Andrews University Agenda

Andrews University Agenda http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/ News and Events at Andrews University en-us Copyright 2026, Andrews University Thu, 3 Sep 2026 08:16:00 +0000 Thu, 3 Sep 2026 08:16:00 +0000 webmaster@andrews.edu webmaster@andrews.edu August 28, 2026: Stinky questions http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/70265 Was your week as busy as mine?! As is typical of the first week of the semester, mine was a blur of new faces and registration challenges and computer system hiccups and questions. Lots of questions. Amongst all these new people, new classes, and new questions, a highlight of my week was when I discovered our carrion plant flowering. It made me ask more questions. Like, why did the plant wait for a couple of years before flowering now? Is it ok that I think this flower is beautiful even though it looks and smells like rotting meat? Is it ok that the plant is tricking the flies into thinking they will find food? Why is it that flies love its smell?! Yes, I know, because they are flies.  But really, what are the structures, cells, receptors, molecules that cause these flies to be attracted? Good scientists ask lots of questions. You might think that the best way to tackle your classes is to find answers, but rather, the best way is to ask lots of questions! Good conversationalists ask lots of questions as well. We had a great Welcome Back Waffles and Pancakes event on Tuesday! The food was great, the company was even better, and the conversations were engaging! Thanks to those of you who came out and started the semester off well. Pancakes were followed by Convocation on Thursday and some snacks on the lawn. And the wall of biologist faces has been updated – you might find yourself there. One thing to take note of: Change Day is coming! Please visit <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_7hLhNLVex5pgj5TtdMbftNQc7-PFBJ0XWHOUivP_NJ36Zw/viewform">this page</a> to learn about and sign up for one of the 50 different projects that are available! I think I might spend the day outside. I’m sure there is something that fits your skills and interests. Have a blessed Sabbath rest following this busy first week of school. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 19:57:11 +0000 August 21, 2026: Learning from squirrels http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/70249 Learning – that’s why you come to college, right? Maybe there are other reasons, too. To meet new people, to grow closer to God, to become a better citizen. But learning is part of all of these. In the coming weeks, you will spend some time thinking about learning. <ul> <li> How can I learn all of this stuff quickly and easily? (hint: you can’t. It takes time and effort)</li> <li> How can I fit it all into my schedule? (hint: use a calendar)</li> <li> How can I find help? (hint: just ask)</li> </ul> I have two bird feeders hanging outside of my house. In reality, they are squirrel feeders. A few weeks ago, I decided I would try to rig up something to keep out the squirrels. As you might guess, they learned quickly and found a way around my device. They just kept trying – persistence counts. But they didn’t just study from afar. They were active problem solvers. They used their ideas. They tested themselves. Psychologists have spent a lot of time thinking about learning. They have learned: 1) you have to test yourself (ask questions – do you know the answer – if not, try again), and 2) you have to do this repeatedly, over time. Cramming is not effective for long-term learning. I’m going to print out a list of students now, with photos, and over the next few days, test myself. I’ll cover up the names, look at the photos, and try to say the names. I’ll fail miserably the first time, do a little better the second time, and by the 10th time hopefully know most of you. New student orientation has been lots of fun! Now the work begins. Some notes for the week ahead: <ol> <li> If you are new to the campus, you might hunt down your classrooms on Sunday so that you know where to go as the week moves forward. Classes in the Science Complex are either PH (Price Hall), HYH (Haughey Hall), or HH (Halenz Hall).</li> <li> This Tuesday at 11:30am (put it in your calendar!) is our first departmental assembly. Please come to the Chobotar Commons (the Biology Lobby) and enjoy a light lunch with us, chat with a professor, meet somebody new. We’re hoping to see all of our biology majors there!</li> <li> This Thursday at 10:30am is Fall Convocation. Everyone will come together at PMC for some pomp and circumstance and a big welcome to the new school year!</li> </ol> Praying that your new semester is full of fun, hard work, new friends, interesting places, and time growing in your walk with God. Don’t forget the blessing of the Sabbath!     Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:41:13 +0000 August 14, 2026: Summer Travels http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69604 STOP! Don’t read any further. First, go to our most recent post at <a href="http://www.instagram.com/aubiologydepartment">www.instagram.com/aubiologydepartment</a>  or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AUBiology">www.facebook.com/AUBiology</a>, and make some guesses. Where did your Andrews biology faculty go this summer??     As you figured out, some traveled far, some were closer to home. It’s likely that almost all traveled through O’Hare International Airport at some point (above). All learned lots this summer and are looking forward to translating their discoveries to insights in the classroom! The prize for most travel goes to Dr. Gonzalez!  He traveled more than 38,000 miles this summer, by plane, boat, rickshaw, bus, taxi, and foot, as Andrews University biologist and National Geographic Explorer. His travels took him to both Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea to study the dugong, a close relative of the manatee and the national animal of Papua New Guinea. They, of course, want to know more about this gentle giant that represents their country. Dr. Navia also traveled far. He and his family recently returned from several weeks in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the Institute for World Mission. The Institute is a cross-cultural training event, considering things such as cultural intelligence, appreciation for other cultures and faiths, and the challenges and joys of serving in diverse cultures. Having gone through this training, he feels better prepared to relate to students coming from all different backgrounds and cultures. We sometimes say, “the world comes to Andrews!” Dr. Moore recently returned from a conference in Washington state organized by the Geoscience Research Institute. This conference enabled participants, Adventist scientists from a number of Adventist institutions, to discuss their professional interests, build community, and particularly connect their science with the Adventist mission. Many participated in a field trip to learn about the geology of the Columbia River Plateau and Channeled Scablands of Washington. Dr. Zdor traveled to Colorado this summer, spending time with family and in the mountains. Dr. Murray visited Trinidad and Tobago, where she ran a marathon, the Midnight Marathon! I visited Walla Walla, Washington, to visit family and celebrate a graduation, and followed that with some time in Seattle. But now the summer is over.  Many of you will be traveling yourself, heading towards southwest Michigan and Andrews University. We look forward to seeing you! Actually, southwest Michigan is a vacation destination in its own right – so you might be able to continue your summer for a little bit (but keeping your focus on your classes, of course) with a trip to the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan. So, if you are traveling in the coming days, safe travels. If you are finishing up the last days of summer, enjoy the sun! If you are already studying for that Early College Experience course, I hope you have settled in and are gaining some new insights! And to all of you (students, faculty, staff, and friends alike!), I’ll be praying for your success as you dive into the challenges and adventures of the months ahead! Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:43:07 +0000 August 7, 2026: Chaos and Order http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69535 Sometimes chaos is necessary before order. When I clean, I often drag my stuff out from where it was accumulating and make piles of stuff: chaos. While you don’t want things in this state for too long, it is necessary. The junk eventually gets moved to a new location, a new space, a trash can, a dumpster. Eventually spaces come to order. We’re seeing this in biology right now. Lab floors are getting a deep cleaning. Old carpets are being ripped out. Books and furniture are cluttering the hallways. But trust us, the chaos will return to order very soon! It takes a lot of energy to get to order. You might recall the second law of thermodynamics, which states that natural processes tend to move toward disorder. Just yesterday, however, I saw evidence that an input of energy from the sun can cause the unexpected. You have to be quick, and observant, to see these things, but some of us spied a cactus bloom. They don’t last long. But WOW! The beauty! The order! (You can see it above, or even better at <a href="http://www.instagram.com/aubiologydepartment">www.instagram.com/aubiologydepartment</a>  or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AUBiology">www.facebook.com/AUBiology</a>) I imagine this as a little biological illustration of what God can do with each one of us – how He can take anything, the mundane and ordinary, even the chaotic, and turn it into order and beauty. “O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 Next week the school year begins, for some of us. The biology faculty will meet on Tuesday. The annual Faculty and Staff Institute, a day of professional development, will happen on Wednesday. Other preparatory meetings and work will be happening the rest of the week, followed by an employee dedication service at PMC as we launch into the new year. We want to give a big thank you to Marshley Stewart, who has served as our Administrative Assistant for many departmental tasks over the last couple years. Next week she will be moving on to a role in the Berrien County Forensic Laboratory (which means she won’t be very far away – just next door in Halenz Hall), where she will more directly use her chemistry skills. Congratulations, Marshley, and thank you for taking care of many of the details of departmental life for us, perhaps reducing some of the inevitable chaos that we encounter😊. Wishing you all the best for the upcoming Sabbath and the week ahead. Sun, 09 Aug 2026 08:52:18 +0000 July 31, 2026: Breathing space http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69505 The weeks of July tend to be quiet ones here in the Science Complex. The summer classes of May and June have finished. Research projects are winding down. Vacation time is enticing, before the hectic semester begins. We now have a little time to breathe. In this breathing time, some of us are returning to challenges that need time and space. Time to percolate in the spaces of our brains. In some ways, it’s kind of like sleep. Although scientists haven’t yet come to a definitive answer for why we sleep, leading theories point to waste clearance from the brain, tissue repair, and memory consolidation. Yes, memory consolidation! It is in the quiet of the night, when all is silent, that our minds get to work to store away the information of the day. Don’t forget to sleep if you want to remember well! So, what challenges are we working on, to consolidate those thoughts, memories, data and ideas? <ul> <li> Well, I’ve seen Dr. Goodwin in his lab, putting finishing touches on a research paper on Ice Age ground squirrels from South Dakota. He tells me that another paper is in press, describing a unique group of Ice Age ground squirrels from Nebraska that includes a new genus and species. Congrats!</li> <li> I have been putting finishing touches on a research paper as well, in collaboration with colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and am working with a former student, Konstantin Zubkov, to wrap up a project exploring the role of an enzyme in digesting neuropeptides at neuronal synapses. </li> <li> Speaking of neurons, Dr. Navia and Dr. Mbungu have been working with a former student and current science teacher at Great Lakes Adventist Academy, Lilly Widdicombe, to investigate the connection between neurons and behavior in crickets. They are studying what happens to cricket behavior when the packaging of neurotransmitters is disrupted. It is a joy to welcome back our former students and to provide professional development opportunities to science teachers at our schools!</li> <li> Dr. Wong is visiting with high school student Rex to work on a cancer prevention project. They are studying the ability of Chinese medicinal herbs to cause death (by apoptosis) of colon cancer cells.</li> </ul> Other faculty members are traveling right now, working with others to consolidate information so that they can be better educators and scientists (more on that in a future email). As you can see, here in Biology, we aim to Seek knowledge. Affirm faith. Change the world. We don’t think that is just a slogan. We take seriously our mission to be top-notch scientists, engaging and effective educators, and faith-affirming mentors. August is here tomorrow. With that comes the start of the new school year! Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:18:43 +0000 July 24, 2026: The Conservatory http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69504 <section data-num-comments="0" id="comments"> Have you ever seen a night-blooming cereus bloom? I haven’t either. I have two of them in hanging pots. About three weeks ago, one of them started to bud. I was so excited! I hear they are very aromatic when they open. But they only open for one night, and by morning their job is (hopefully) done and they wilt. Well, it didn’t bloom until two days after we left for vacation (photo credit, Tori, who was also taking care of our dog), so I am still left empty-nosed. There are several more of these plants in the Andrews Botanical Conservatory, but I don’t typically hang out there at night – so I have always missed those one-night blooms! Why the rush, cereus?! There are many more reasons to visit the Conservatory, however. Warmth in the winter, a place to meet friends, a cozy study nook. The beauty of God’s creation. “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” Jer 32:17 ESV I hope you can visit the Conservatory sometime. We were recently part of a US Department of Education grant designed to support at-risk and disadvantaged students – some of these funds were used for upgrades to the Conservatory to help students spend time in nature even during the winter. We have been adding furniture (whew, that stuff was hard to put together!) and new plants, for your enjoyment, wellbeing, and educational advancement, and look forward to sharing this with you! Perhaps we should update its name to ‘resort’ 😊. If you still aren’t sure why you should visit, see our social media accounts for a reel of ideas! Have a Happy Sabbath and a great week ahead!   </section> Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:10:51 +0000 July 17, 2026: Abscission http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69503 <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> I know that this is the height of summer (whew, it was hot outside this week), but let’s talk about fall for a minute. In September and October, at least here in Michigan, the days begin to get cooler and shorter. There is less and less benefit for deciduous trees to maintain their supply of chlorophyll, so they get rid of it, undergoing the degreening process (absorption of chlorophyll), followed by leaf abscission (the separation of the leaf from the tree, think ‘scissors’ for ab’scission’). So why do we care about this right now, you ask? Well, we here in Biology have been undergoing our own ‘degreening’ and ‘abscission’ process, as we clear out our many large green lab tables. We recently shared some of this on our social media, if you’d like to see the abscission process for tables.  Many generations of biology students have studied at these tables, but ‘there is a season for everything’ (Eccl 3:1) and we are moving into an exciting new season! Note that a local woodworker is repurposing the old tables, very fitting for our biological analogy – the cycle of life. Yes, change is in the air here at Andrews Biology! Let me share some other things that have been happening:</div> <ul font-size:="" ibm="" margin-bottom:="" margin-top:="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Our rooftop greenhouse, the Andrews Botanical Conservatory, has received a major facelift! You’ll definitely want to visit this fall to soak up some sunshine and green when the outdoor green has gone. More on that next time...</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Our small classroom and main office also got a makeover. We’re excited to share these spaces with you in education and conversation.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"> We are growing! Biology is now a part of the School of Life and Molecular Sciences, and we are looking forward to working more with our colleagues in adjacent disciplines to advance the education of our students! I might even use future editions of this email for sharing some agricultural and biochemical themes, both near and dear to my heart!</li> </ul> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> I hope your summer is also full of growth and productivity, with a healthy dose of rest! Although this email might sound like I’m working, I’m actually enjoying a week at Camp Au Sable, soaking up some time with God in nature and with friends and family before the semester begins! A blessed Sabbath to you all!</div> Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:15:59 +0000 July 7, 2026: Happy Birthday! http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69502 <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> We think life is beautiful and amazing! Consider the neuron at the top – drawn by Santiago Ramón y Cajal, these drawings were some of the first revelations of the complexity of our brain. If this one neuron has that many branches, how many branches are present in our entire brain? Yes, fearfully and wonderfully made!</div> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: ">  </div> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> To start this July, we should say: Happy Birthday!! 🎉🎈</div> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: ">  </div> <ul font-size:="" ibm="" margin-bottom:="" margin-top:="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"> For the United States of America, it's the 250th. Imagine - in 1776, there was little understanding of cellular life, much less of a neuron.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Andrews University recently celebrated its 150th. The stain that allowed the above drawing was invented by Camillo Golgi just one year before 1874, when Andrews made its debut as a small school in Battle Creek, Michigan.</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"> I recently celebrated my (mumbling...) birthday! Yes, we knew about cells back then. 🙂</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"> You likely celebrated some milestones recently also! A graduation? A challenging year successfully completed. A step toward a goal you are aiming for.</li> </ul> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14.</div> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> There has been a lot happening in Biology at Andrews this summer, changes with you in mind as we look forward to the semester ahead! But we’ll keep this first note a short one - stay tuned for more on that next time! For now, let me introduce myself for those who don't know me. When I put my "work hat" on, I like working with students to learn more about the complexities of cells and molecules, maybe even to make a new discovery in the lab! Check out our social media pages for an intro to some of my favorite spots in our building. In my non-work life, I like being on a bicycle (Andrews has great bike paths!), walking my dog Baxter (he insists on a brisk walk), or getting my hands dirty in the garden.</div> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: ">  </div> <div font-size:="" ibm="" plex="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "> Until next time, blessings to you, from Andrews University, Baxter, and me.</div> Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:16:52 +0000