KABT BioBlog

2010 OBTA NOMINATIONS FOR KANSAS
We are looking for this year’s nominations for the Kansas OBTA.
The National Association of Biology Teachers invites nominations for the Kansas Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for 2010. All biology/life science instructors (grades 7-12) with at least three years teaching experience in public, private, or parochial schools are eligible and self-nominations are [...]

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George Pisani and Bill Busby are looking for help.  You, your students and other interested parties can help expand the knowledge of two Eastern Kansas snakes:  Red-bellied and Smooth Earth Snakes.  Note that these are some of the earliest snakes to show up in the spring (March).  Spread the word to others in your community.  [...]

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A post just came through the KS-Bird list about an interesting Cornell Citizen science program:
The Rusty Blackbird Blitz
Rusty Blackbirds are in decline and Kansas is part of their winter range.  This “blitz”/survey is set up for the first two weeks of Feb.  Check out the link for protocols.  If you decide to get out and [...]

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Understanding the Role of the Dynein/Dynactin Motor in Neurodegenerative Diseases

by Dr. Margaret Kincaid, Associate Professor, Science
6:30 pm reception and 7 pm lecture, Wednesday, February 10, 2010
M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Auditorium at Johnson County Community College
Intracellular trafficking plays an important role in a range of human disease. As a basic scientist, Kincaid is looking at one [...]

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Wikipedia receives plenty of disparagement these days in the world of education, but much of the disgruntlement is misplaced or is at least too narrowly focused on Wikipedia as perhaps the most conspicuous, convenient target. The vehemence of the anti-Wikipedia sentiments from fellow educators can sometimes be downright intimidating, but I would like to argue [...]

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Last year the KABT Spring Field trip journeyed out to the new Wetlands Museum at Cheyenne Bottoms—they have an job opening:
Educator, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Fort Hays State University.
Full-time 12 month, nontenure track educator with specialization in
environmental education, ornithology, ecology, conservation biology,
wildlife management, or other related area of expertise.  Required
qualifications:  an earned bachelor?s degree in [...]

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Here’s something you might have an interest in from Paul Adams and the KATS news:
Mini Grant for Urban Birding
Call for Mini-Grant Applicants
Dear Friend,
The Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers mini-grants to help museums, afterschool programs, libraries, community centers, and other local organizations fund neighborhood events. These events may involve [...]

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Hope everyone else is enjoying our Little Ice Age weather!
So why would I go out in such lousy weather? Well, it certainly puts a finer point on any musings regarding metabolism, body size and natural selection to stand in the same Arctic air as a tiny black-capped chickadee foraging for nearly invisible [...]

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Over the last couple of years a really neat idea to help popularize science has spread widely across the U.S.—the Cafe Scientifique.  Here, in an informal setting, scientists discuss their work with the general public.  Generally, held in restaurants or brew pubs the programs offer a time to socialize, have a good time and learn [...]

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Monarchs will be taking off to space, tomorrow–setting the alltime monarch record for migration miles…..
Here’s the details.

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