27th Annual Biology Graduate Student Symposium Hatfield Marine Science Center Newport, OR March 8th, 2014         What is the Biology Graduate Student Symposium (BGSS)? BGSS is an informal scientific meeting organized by graduate students at Oregon State University to provide a campus-wide forum for the exchange of ideas in the field of biology. BGSS brings together students from all over the OSU campus including the main campus, the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, and the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station & Seafood Laboratory in Astoria.  The participants hail from a wide variety of disciplines including: Biochemistry and Biophysics, Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Botany & Plant Pathology, Crop & Soil Science, Forest Ecosystems & Society, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Statistics, COAS, and Integrative Biology. The purpose of BGSS is three-fold:   (1) to provide an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students, post-docs, and lab research assistants in all disciplines of biology to interact and learn about other OSU research in an informal setting (2) to allow students to present research ideas or results and to get feedback (3) to provide an opportunity to give a scientific presentation in a relatively stress-free environment   Invited Speaker In 2014 we have the great pleasure of hosting Dr. Thomas G. Dietterich, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Director of Intelligent Systems here at OSU. Dr. Dietterich is interested in machine learning- in both the development of smarter AI systems and the ability to harness such computational power to solve ecological problems, especially in the growing field of Computational Sustainability. His lab studies a diversity of topics from using models to predict swallow roosts via doppler radar to teaching machines how to identify and score phenotype characters in biological specimens.   Presenting at BGSS There are 15 time slots for oral presentations and many slots for poster presentations at BGSS. Oral presentations are filled on a first come first serve basis and tend to fill up quickly. If you would like to give an oral presentation, it is highly encouraged that you register as early as possible. Abstract submission closes February 22nd, so please register early if you would like to present at BGSS. If all presentation slots are full, please consider doing a poster! You can also attend BGSS without contributing a talk or poster.   Registration (opens January 30th) Presenting at the meeting is optional, but registration is required. Spouses and significant others are welcome to attend BGSS, but must also pay the registration fee to offset the cost of additional food and beverages.   Early Registration: If you register by February 22nd, 2014, the cost of registration will be $12. If you would like to present and/or order a t-shirt, please choose the early registration option. Late Registration: If you register February 23rd or later, the cost of registration will be $18.   Registration is a two-part process: (1) Fill out the online registration form. (2) Pay Danielle. The cost is $12 per person for registration by February 22nd and $18 per person for registration February 23rd or later, whether to present or simply to attend. If you indicated that you want an awesome BGSS t-shirt, include the additional cost. Acceptable forms of payment: cash or check payable to "BGSS" delivered to Danielle Tom, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis OR, 97331.   Presenters Poster and oral presenters must submit a title and abstract when registering. Oral presenters give a 12 minute talk on their proposed or ongoing research (no hard data necessary!) followed by 3 minutes for questions. An LCD projector and PC laptop computer will be made available for you. Please ensure that your presentation is WinXP, Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 compatible.   T-shirts The 2014 t-shirt is available in two styles in men’s and women’s sizes. Short sleeve t-shirts are $15, and long sleeve t-shirts are $18. If you would like a t-shirt, please indicate the size and style in your registration form and include the additional cost in your check or cash payment. Check below for the size chart (women’s sizes tend to run fairly small). Please register for BGSS by the early deadline if you would like to order a shirt.       Short Sleeve t-shirt ($15)                                                               Long Sleeve t-shirt- will have the 2014 logo, photo is last year's shirt ($18)     T-shirt Size chart: Men's (chest) = S: 34-36   M: 38-40    L: 42-44    XL: 46-40    2XL: 50-52    3XL: 54-56   4XL: 56-60                              Women's (size) = XS: 0-2     S: 4-6    M: 8-10    L: 12-14    XL: 16-18  2XL: 20-22  3XL: 24-26   Program Program book including abstracts and the schedule of presentations. We will not provide copies of the abstract book but will provide a copy of the schedule and the directions to the rental house.   Travel, Meals & Accommodations This year's meeting will be held on the Oregon coast in the Guin Library at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center. Carpooling can be arranged by the BGSS organizers. BGSS provides meals on Saturday, March 8th, and breakfast on Sunday, March 9th. Vegetarian options are available. On Saturday night, BGSS will host a social in a rented house in Newport. Dinner including wine and beer (for ages 21+) will be provided. All participants are invited to attend the social and to sleep at the house.   Map of Newport and the Hatfield Marine Science Center BGSS House 2014: 133 NE 122nd St., Newport, 97365 DRIVING DIRECTIONS:   2013 Abstract Book 2014 Abstract Book coming soon!   Questions? Ask any of your 2014 BGSS organizers:   Payment questions? Ask Danielle Website issues? Ask Danielle Abstract submission questions? Ask Natalie Want to order extra t-shirts? Ask Leah Specific dietary requirements? Ask Dani and Leah Housing concerns? Ask Emily Care to sponsor BGSS? Ask Sarah and Trevor Other feedback? Ask Phil