July 31, 2026: Breathing space

The weeks of July tend to be quiet ones here in the Science Complex. The summer classes of May and June have finished. Research projects are winding down. Vacation time is enticing, before the hectic semester begins. We now have a little time to breathe.

In this breathing time, some of us are returning to challenges that need time and space. Time to percolate in the spaces of our brains.

In some ways, it’s kind of like sleep. Although scientists haven’t yet come to a definitive answer for why we sleep, leading theories point to waste clearance from the brain, tissue repair, and memory consolidation. Yes, memory consolidation! It is in the quiet of the night, when all is silent, that our minds get to work to store away the information of the day. Don’t forget to sleep if you want to remember well!

So, what challenges are we working on, to consolidate those thoughts, memories, data and ideas?

• Well, I’ve seen Dr. Goodwin in his lab, putting finishing touches on a research paper on Ice Age ground squirrels from South Dakota. He tells me that another paper is in press, describing a unique group of Ice Age ground squirrels from Nebraska that includes a new genus and species. Congrats!
• I have been putting finishing touches on a research paper as well, in collaboration with colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and am working with a former student, Konstantin Zubkov, to wrap up a project exploring the role of an enzyme in digesting neuropeptides at neuronal synapses. 
• Speaking of neurons, Dr. Navia and Dr. Mbungu have been working with a former student and current science teacher at Great Lakes Adventist Academy, Lilly Widdicombe, to investigate the connection between neurons and behavior in crickets. They are studying what happens to cricket behavior when the packaging of neurotransmitters is disrupted. It is a joy to welcome back our former students and to provide professional development opportunities to science teachers at our schools!
• Dr. Wong is visiting with high school student Rex to work on a cancer prevention project. They are studying the ability of Chinese medicinal herbs to cause death (by apoptosis) of colon cancer cells.

Other faculty members are traveling right now, working with others to consolidate information so that they can be better educators and scientists (more on that in a future email).

As you can see, here in Biology, we aim to Seek knowledge. Affirm faith. Change the world. We don’t think that is just a slogan. We take seriously our mission to be top-notch scientists, engaging and effective educators, and faith-affirming mentors.

August is here tomorrow. With that comes the start of the new school year!