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An article co-authored by Assistant Professor of Biology Andrea Townsend was recently published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. “Influence of host ecology and behavior on Campylobacter jejuni prevalence and environmental contamination risk in a synanthropic wild bird species” describes seasonal variation in the prevalence of Campylobacter infection of wild crows in Davis, Calif.

Pat Reynolds, the Stone Professor of Natural History, spent July 1 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. helping with outreach for International Polychaete Day.

President Joan Hinde Stewart recently announced the appointment of eight Hamilton faculty members to endowed chairs.  Doug Ambrose (history),  Brian Collett (physics), Martine Guyot-Bender (French), Gordon Jones (physics), Tim Kelly (mathematics), Heidi Ravven (religious studies), Patrick Reynolds (biology) and Michael “Doc” Woods (music) received appointments. All are effective July 1.

Colleagues in the Hamilton College chapter of Sigma Xi recognized service provided by a retiring senior member during the recent initiation dinner at commencement. Professor of Biology Sue Ann Miller has been a member of the society for 44 years since she was inducted as a graduating student having published a book and participated in scientific meetings and panels. Continuous active membership for decades has made her a sustaining member.

Ernest Williams, the William R. Kenan Professor of Biology emeritus and lecturer in biology, co-authored a letter that will be presented to the leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico when they meet for the North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa on June 29.

Over the past decade, bees have been dying and colonies collapsing in unprecedented numbers, posing a threat not only to the bees themselves, but to the many crops they pollinate. Scientists are still working to understand all the factors that pose risks to bees. This summer, Andre Burnham ’18 and Fiona McLaughlin ’19 are contributing their own research to this important question by comparing the fitness of locally raised queen bees and queen bees imported from California.

Sara G. Miller ’10, a staff writer for Live Science, recently wrote an article titled “How Much Sleep Does Your School-Age Child Need?” She has written many other articles for this site covering issues on healthy friendships and relationships, diets, weight loss, cancer and many other health-related topics.

Andy Chen ’16 has a short-term plan and a long-term plan. He’ll spend a semester studying biotechnology at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan, then launch a cell phone-based health and education service in Kenya with Leonard Kilekwang ’16.

Elisa MacColl ’16 will take her biology background to Boston management consulting firm L.E.K. where she will combine her science research experience with business.

The Hamilton College Chapter of Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, initiated 13 members of the Class of 2016 to associate membership before the annual dinner in the Taylor Science Center Atrium on May 20. Family members in attendance enjoyed a program of observations by mentors about the students, their research and student plans to continue in research.