By Hilary Baril 

Yesterday was my last first day of school. I thought it was going to be different, but it turned out to be just like any other year! It was exciting to come back and see my journalism school classmates and meet all of my professors. This fall, I am taking five classes, one of which is online. Luckily, I was able to plan my schedule so that all my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is perfect for me because then I can work and study on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! 

Here are the courses I am taking this fall:

Visual Communication: This class is all about images. I will learn about the history of images in the media, how words and images compliment one another, and how to critique and create quality images. I am excited for our photography project in which we take multiple photographs of the same object, but emphasizing different elements each time, such as line, shadow, or color.

Basic Media Graphics: In this course, I will be learning basic graphic design techniques. We  started learning Photoshop yesterday and I had fun coloring different parts of a black and white photograph.

Cases in Strategic Planning and Thinking: In this class, I will be completing one of my senior projects--a paper and presentation analyzing an advertising or public relations campaign. My professor is one of the best in the School of Journalism and told us all about his experience in the corporate world. I am excited to hear more stories about his successful businesses.

Introduction to Entrepreneurship: I am excited to have one of my favorite teachers for this course. He tells funny stories about his life, makes an extra effort to get to know his students, and brings in a lot of excellent guest speakers. I have always dreamed about owning my own business, and in this class I will learn what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.

Career Skills in the Professional Environment: This is the online course that I am taking. I needed a couple extra credits, and what better class to take my senior year than a career skills class!? The projects include resume writing, conducting informational interviews, and developing networking skills.

It is going to be a busy semester, but I really like all of my professors and think my classes will be challenging and fun!

Every week, each department in the College of Biological Sciences welcomes guest lecturers from around the country to speak at the University of Minnesota. Throughout the school year, students and faculty have a great opportunity to listen to researchers from Universities near and far discuss their current research and discoveries. 

As a student, I really enjoyed attending these complimentary seminars. It was fascinating to learn about developing knowledge in different fields within the biological sciences. Also, listening to a lecture without having a worry about taking notes and prepping for an exam was revitalizing and relaxing, believe it or not!

Take a glance the each of the department homepages on occasion and feel free to join students and faculty for cookies, refreshments and an intellectual experience. If you're planning to visit campus this fall, this would be a great opportunity to take a tour, learn about admissions, and then catch one of these seminars. (You can register for a campus visit at http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/visit.)

Seminars in College of Biological Sciences departments:

Microbiology

September 13: Dr. Andrew Camilli, School of Medicine, Tufts University

Title: Transition of vibrio cholerae into and out of the host

Plant Biology

September 14: Dr. Robertson McClung, Dartmouth University

Title: Do you know your ABCs? Arbidopsis and Brassica Clocks

Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics

September 15: Dr. John Roth, University of California, Davis

Title: A molecular view of natural selection: Understanding high-speed adaptation  

Genetics, Cell Biology and Development 

September 16: Dr. Steven Leach M.D., McKusick-Nathans Institute, Johns Hopkins University

Title: Finding the Center: Centroacinar progenitor cells in mouse and zebrafish

Neuroscience

September 18: Dr. Christopher Cowan, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Title: Molecular Mechanisms of Addiction-related Synapse Plasticity

Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

September 22: Dr. Sarah Hobbie, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota.

Title: Biogeochemical cycling through urban households: The role of human choice

By Dorothy Cheng

My first year at the U of M, I took a computer science class and was one of just eight female students in the class. I am proud to say that the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) has changed a lot since my first year here. This year, female students comprise 25 percent of CSE, the highest percentage in the history of the college! Yeah!

I have always found CSE faculty, students, and staff to be incredibly encouraging and supportive of women in science and engineering. At the end of the semester in that same computer science class, my female professor reached out to all the women in our class to welcome us to the U of M and discuss our future in CSE.

In addition to support from faculty, CSE has a number of programs for undergraduate women.  The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) House is a Living Learning Community for women interested in the sciences or engineering. In addition to living with other female CSE students, the WISE house plans lab tours, dinners with faculty, and study groups to enhance students' experiences.

A very active student group on campus is the Society for Women Engineers (SWE). Male students are welcome to join this student group, but its core purpose is to encourage women to achieve their full potential in science and engineering careers. Check out SWE's calendar to see what they will be involved in this year.

You can also get involved in the Greek system through Alpha Sigma Kappa, a social sorority for women in technical studies. The sorority accepts women in engineering, architecture, and the sciences. Many sisters take classes together, form study groups, hold leadership positions within the sorority, and participate in philanthropic events in the Twin Cities.

Being involved in these groups is a great way to find out about events going on around the Twin Cities. I recently received an email from the Women in Mathematics (WIM) student group with information about an upcoming play from the Phoenix Theater Project. WIM has been invited to take part in a discussion about the production of Proof, an upcoming show about a young woman who struggles to establish herself as mathematician in the shadow of her late father, a world renowned mathematician.

A pre-show discussion has already taken place and a post-show discussion will occur after WIM members have the opportunity to see the play. The hope is that these dicussions will further awareness about women in mathematics. If you will be in the Twin Cities area September 10th through the 25th, you should definitely check out the play!

By Matt Sabongi

Deciding where to go to college can be a complex decision. When I was deciding where I wanted pursue my college education, I knew that I wanted to attend an institution that provided me with a lot of opportunities as well as a strong sense of community. That is why I chose the University of Minnesota. In addition to the amazing location, when touring campus I could tell that University was home to a community of students and faculty were not just interested in their studies, but passionate about them!

To see for yourself what I'm describing, check the video below entitled "Because". This video is a quick look at what makes the University of Minnesota community so special. It highlights some of the groundbreaking research that faculty and students are currently conducting at the University, and how that work could change the world.

In this video you will be introduced to a former College of Biological Sciences (CBS) student and personal friend of mine, Janaki Paskaradevan (you will see her at the end of the video holding the "Because" prop). Janaki and I have been good friends for many years. We went to high school together and both studied the biological sciences at the University of Minnesota.

Both Janaki and I were very active members in CBS. In fact, we worked together on the College of Biological Sciences Student Board. Janaki graduated from CBS with a bachelor of science in neuroscience in May 2010 and is now studying at John's Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Check it out and get inspired!

By Matt Sabongi 

One of my favorite aspects about the Twin Cities is the amazing music scene here. No matter what genre of music you enjoy, the Twin Cities hosts artists from all over the world to play intimate venues like the Cedar Cultural Center near the University's West Bank or soldout stadiums like the Target Center. Minneapolis and St. Paul are great locations for any kind of music lover.

I am a huge music fan. On a weekly basis I try to go see at least one artist that I have not seen before. Being one of the major metropolitan areas in the Midwest and a enclave for artists of all kinds, the Twin Cities attracts both upcoming and mainstream musicians throughout the year. For those of you who are new to the area, here are a few of my favorite venues around campus that I recommend:

First and foremost is First Avenue and the 7th Street Entry. This is a must-see venue! This club/danceria/concert hall an amazing spot to see any kind of concert. No matter if you're into hip hop, jazz, latin, dance, indie, or folk, First Avenue has a diverse giglist that will interest every music buff. From campus, getting to First Ave. (as we locals like to call it) is an easy 15-minute bus ride into downtown.

Another one of my favorite venues in the area is the Varsity Theater. Conveniently located in the heart of Dinkytown, the Varsity Theater is within walking distance for students anywhere on campus. According to the theater's webpage, this historical venue has been hosting gatherings since 1915. With an amazing sound system and intimate, ballroom setting inside, the Varsity is a phenomanal spot to see any show.

One of my most memorable experiences as a music fanatic actually occurred while seeing a show the University of Minnesota's own venue, The Whole. During my sophomore year, I was able to meet Minneapolis's own Brother Ali during a private Q&A hosted by our student radio station, Radio K. Located on the basement floor of Coffman Memorial Union, The Whole is a quaint, coffeehouse-like venue that hosts local artists from the Twin Cities and small groups traveling around the area. Most weekends throughout the school year, Student Unions and Activities invites artists from all over to perform.

I hope this small list of venues sparks your interest for the vibrant music culture here in the Twin Cities. In addition to these 3 venues, I encourage you to visit some of the many great music establishments while living on or near campus.