Evolution blogs

Please be sure to explore the blogs for my Evolution class' service-learning projects (linked below)!  They are contributing to grid-computing endeavors that are helping to treat disease and predict global climate change.  It's fascinating stuff, so I recommend checking them out!

Monty's Day Out

Wednesday, my snake, Monty, and I went to Monarch Montessori school to talk to the kids (two classes, ages ranging from 2 to 7) about herpetology.  They were able to recite the words "herpetology" and "Monty" in unison, and then I got Monty out of my backpack and things got exciting.  Nearly all of them wanted to pet him, even many who initially claimed to be afraid of snakes.  While half of them lined up to pet Monty or tickle his tummy, the others used my snake tongs to practice picking up (fake) snakes like little herpetologists.  Pictured below are three kiddos who came back for second and third pets, and Dr. Salem's daughter, Allison, giving Monty a back scratch.

Merry Christmas!!!

I thought it appropriate today to post the link to a great piece on the Rockhurst website about our KC Wildlands Cedar Christmas Tree event (also described below).  Merry Christmas!

KC Wildlands Cedar Tree Event

On Saturday afternoon, several Kansas City Wildlands volunteers (myself included) braved the frigid temperatures and helped lots of local families chop down their own invasive native cedar Christmas trees.  Despite temp's in the single digits, we had a great turnout and were able to raise a respectable amount in donations for Kansas City Wildlands, a non-profit program under Bridging the Gap that works to protect, maintain and restore the wild areas in the KC metro area.  These trees are native to the area but they tend to out-compete the rest of the natural vegetation, especially in prairies and grasslands, so they need to be culled out occasionally.  And what better time than the Christmas season to chop down cedar trees!

Chiefs

After a fun Thanksgiving in Texas, where I got to see my two little nieces and the rest of my family, yesterday was kind of a letdown.  On a positive note, I gave a talk at the All Souls Universalist Unitarian Church about the evolution of altruism yesterday morning (to be broadcast on KKFI 90.1 at noon next Wednesday).  But after that, I went to Arrowhead stadium with some friends and witnessed a heartbreaking Chiefs loss to their Division rivals, the Denver Broncos.  At every other game I've been to this season, we've been celebrating and giving high-fives to strangers on our way out to the car.  This time, however, we were all hanging our heads.  We've got four more games to go, though; so we should end this season at 13-3!

NCHC New Orleans

Last Thursday, my Biotechnology class and I toured Cerner's world headquarters (pictured below), and then I headed to the airport to catch a flight to New Orleans for the National Collegiate Honors Council's annual conference.  I was accompanied by two outstanding honors students and officers on our Honors Student Association Executive Board.  One of these students (Josh Goralski, pictured) presented a talk about the Executive Board's efforts to "put the 'fun' in honors fundraising" by working shifts at exciting events like the Warrior Dash and Color Run. We also had some obligatory French-Quarter time and Nick and Josh experienced real Cajun food, including multiple trips to Cafe du Monde for beignets.  And, of course, we returned feeling inspired and motivated to improve our honors program with ideas we gleaned from the conference sessions.  Good times.

Honors Room

Thanks to the Honors Student Association Executive Board, the Honors Room (Sedgwick 206) has been recently remodeled!  It looks great, and will be much more accommodating and comfy for our Honors Advisory Committee meeting later today.  Thanks, Eboard!