Monthly Archives: August 2015

BEACON Researchers at Work: Pacific Land Snail Evolution

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Danielle Whittaker

This week’s BEACON Researchers at Work blog post is by University of Idaho postdoc Andrew Kraemer.  “When was the last time this island was searched for snails?” I asked as I picked my way through the loose cobble of lava … Continue reading →

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BEACON Researchers at Work: Providing computational methods for biological research

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Danielle Whittaker

This week’s BEACON Researchers at Work blog post is by University of Texas at Austin research scientist Dennis Wylie. I’ve always been intrigued by the combination of seemingly incongruous things. As a child I loved stories about strange chimerical creatures … Continue reading →

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Misnomers and Mixed Intentions: Communicating Science is Hard

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Danielle Whittaker

Reposted from the Teaching Evolution in Action blog By Chris Symons The route of information between the raw data of scientific experimentation to the public’s understanding is convoluted. The murky water of scientific communication is problematic at best, if anyone … Continue reading →

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Passing of Prof. John Holland, father of genetic algorithms and pioneer in complex systems

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Danielle Whittaker

August 10, 2015 Dear BEACONites, It is with great sadness that I report the death yesterday of Prof. John H. Holland, Professor of Psychology and of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan. John, 86, succumbed to an … Continue reading →

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BEACON Researchers at Work: Partnerships between plants and bacteria

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Danielle Whittaker

This week’s BEACON Researchers at Work blog post is by MSU graduate student Colleen Friel. My foray into the world of science started back when I was a high school student dead set on becoming a large animal veterinarian. To … Continue reading →

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Natural Rejection: Addressing Student Resistance to Evolution Education

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Danielle Whittaker

Reposted from the Teaching Evolution in Action blog By Ian Zaback It’s a moment that we’ve all dreaded in one way or another. A student approaches you at the end of class clutching a note, and as the paper changes … Continue reading →

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