Hello!  On behalf of the ICBTA Steering Committee, I’d like to officially invite you to Valparaiso University for the 2009 meeting of the Indiana College Biology Teachers’ Association (ICBTA).  The meeting will begin with dinner on Friday, October 16^th and continue through the early afternoon on Saturday, October 17^th.  The theme of this year’s meeting is Environmental Sciences.

 

ICBTA Info: 

The Indiana College Biology Teachers’ Association is a small but enthusiastic group of Hoosier biology professors who are interested in sharing and improving multiple aspects of our teaching and our biology programs.  Each year we gather at a different campus in the fall to discuss a topic of interest to the group.  We traditionally invite an outside speaker for Friday evening and continue with Saturday morning workshop sessions, with brief presentations from members and discussion about our topic.  After the morning session, we have a lunch and then a business meeting where officers are elected and future topics are discussed.  We have a good representation from smaller campuses around the state, and would love to have even broader participation.  Please consider attending this local, useful meeting!

 

Program Overview:

Our Friday evening speaker will be Dr. Joy Marburger.  She is the Research Coordinator for the Great Lakes Research and Education Center at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Porter, Indiana.  She will speak on teaching and research opportunities at the National Lakeshore and other national parks.  She will also talk about some current research as well as funding and student internship opportunities. 

On Saturday morning we will have several short presentations about current Environmental Sciences programs and activities at various Indiana institutions as well as discussion groups for folks interested in particular aspects of Environmental Sciences.  Presenters will be Dr. Daryl Karns and Dr. Darrin Rubino (Hanover College) and Dr. Mic Jackson (Earlham College), Dr. Bob Broadman (St. Joseph’s College), Dr. Deborah Marr (Indiana University South Bend), and Dr. Jerry Sweeten (Manchester College).

PLEASE NOTE THAT VALPARAISO IS ON CENTRAL STANDARD TIME!

Our Friday dinner will be in the Harre Union, Brown & Gold Room (second floor) at 6:30 PM CST, with the talk by Joy Marburger to follow immediately in the same room. The Harre Union is building #50 on the campus map.  The Saturday sessions will be in the Neils Science Center (NSC), room 224, building #10 on the campus map.  Continental breakfast will be in the main foyer of NSC at 8:30 AM CST, as will the coffee break.  Lunch on Saturday will be back in the Brown & Gold Room of the Harre Union.  Parking in lots 13 & 14 will be most convenient to both the Harre Union and the Neils Science Center.  Both lots have open (non-ticketed) parking for visitors during the times of the meeting.

 

Registration:

ICBTA annual dues are $20 and the registration fee for the meeting (to cover meals) is $36.  The total can be paid to the treasurer, Bruce Evans, when you arrive and check in at the meeting on Friday evening.  Please RSVP to Pam Connerly at 812-941-2131 or pconnerl@ius.edu by Friday, October 9 if you will be able to join us. 

 

Travel and Housing Info:

Dave Scupham is our local Valparaiso organizer (David.Scupham@valpo.edu, 219-464-5386).  Directions to Valpo and a campus map can be found at http://www.valpo.edu/maps/.  A list of several lodging and dining options in Valparaiso, can be accessed at http://www.valpo.edu/admissions/visit/area.php.  The first four hotels listed are a short walk from campus. 

 

We hope to see you all at Valpo!

Pam Connerly, ICBTA President-Elect (pconnerl@ius.edu

And the ICBTA Steering Committee:

Jim McLister, President (jmcliste@iusb.edu)

David Benson, Past President (dbenson@marian.edu)

David Hicks, Secretary (DJHicks@manchester.edu)

Bruce Evans, Treasurer (bevans@huntington.edu)

Darrin Rubino (rubino@hanover.edu)

Doug Stemke (stemked@unidy.edu )

Alice Heikens (aheikens@franklincollege.edu)

Al Williams (aawilliams@manchester.edu)

Beth Burch (bburch@huntington.edu)

Sandy Davis (sdavis@uindy.edu)

 

 

The Indiana College Biology Teacher’s Association (ICBTA) is an organization consisting of biology faculty from throughout the state.  Our mission is to support and enhance undergraduate learning in the biological sciences.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

 

 

  We hope you will join us for what promises to be a lively and informative meeting!