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Claire Han ’19 is working this summer as a software development intern at Resource Systems Group (RSG) in White River Junction, Vt. RSG, Han explained, is “a consulting firm that offers services in transportation planning, market strategy, and custom software development.” Han, who is a prospective computer science major, aims to learn as much as possible about different aspects of software development. As an intern, Han said every day is a bit different, and she’s working on a variety of projects. Some of her work includes translating code, while other days she attends department meetings or participates in training. This means she gets to learn not only about software development, but about consulting.

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.

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.

Though students may have left for the summer, Hamilton’s classrooms are far from deserted.  As part of ongoing community outreach, the Taylor Science Center opened its doors to third grade classes from Myles Elementary School in New Hartford. Over 70 students roamed the building with teachers and chaperones, exploring different scientific disciplines. 

With a well-known commencement speaker who holds controversial views, Hamilton may have anticipated a bit more national media attention to the event than in past years. What was not expected was additional focus on the dean of faculty.

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.

Lilly Pieper ’18 has been awarded a 2016 American Microscopical Society Student Fellowship to support her research with Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Simon Coppard’s research group on the “Evolution and expression of venom genes in sea urchin pedicellariae.”

The Hamilton College Chapter of Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, elected 14 members of the Class of 2016 to associate membership on May 3. The students are: Joelle Baer, John Bennett, Austin Durham, David Freeman, Olivia Gozdz, Elizabeth Larson, Alex Mitko, Eric Nieminen, Lillie Ogden, Abigail Quirk, Kenneth Ratliff, Emily Rubinstein, Michael Verostek and Ben Wesley.