The COSM Corner
News & Events from the College of Science and Mathematics
College of Science and Mathematics
Email: cosm@georgiasouthern.edu
Website: cosm.georgiasouthern.edu
Location: Statesboro, Savannah, & Hinesville
Phone: 912-478-5111
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosmgeorgiasouthernuniversity/
Twitter: @GSCOSM
COSM
The College of Science and Mathematics is one of the eight colleges that comprise Georgia Southern University. The College offers undergrad degree programs on both the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses and Master's degree programs on the Statesboro campus through the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry, Geology & Geography, Mathematical Sciences, Military Science, and Physics & Astronomy.
News from the Biology Department
- Congratulations to Jennifer Brofft-Bailey, Geneva DeMars, & Dongyu Jia. they received USG STEM Initiative grants to enhance active learning.
- Cox NSF Grant
- Graduate Student Anna Wagner, won the Best Student Oral Presentation award at the recent Southeastern Regional Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry meeting in Dauphin Island, AL. Her talk was titled: MCHM (4-methylcyclohexane methanol) influences the predator-prey interaction between Danio rerio and Daphnia magna (co-authors and research mentors Vinoth Sittaramane and Risa Cohen)
- Publications:
Apanaskevich D.A. and Apanaskevich M.A. 2018. Description of a new species of Amblyomma Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), parasite of deer (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) and wild pigs (Artiodactyla: Suidae) in the Philippines. Systematic Parasitology 95: 415–425.
Durden, L. A., Kessler, S. E., Radespiel, U., Zimmermann, E., Hasiniaina, A. F., and Zohdy, S. 2018. A new species of sucking louse (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) from the gray mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus (Primates: Cheirogaleidae), in Madagascar. Journal of Medical Entomology 55: 910-914. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjy046.
Jia, D., Nagaoka, Y., Katsumata, M., Orsulic, S. (2018). Inflammation is a key contributor to ovarian cancer cell seeding. Scientific Reports. 8:12394
McAllister, C. T., Mitchell, J. C., and Durden, L. A. 2018. Acris blanchardi (Ectoparasites). Herpetological Review 49: 297-298.
Scott, J. D., Clark, K. L., Foley, J. E., Bierman, B. C., and Durden, L. A. 2018. Far-reaching dispersal of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-infected blacklegged ticks by migratory songbirds in Canada. Healthcare 6: 89, doi:10.3390/healthcare6030089 (15 pages).
Strickland, G.J. and J.H. Roberts. Online ahead of print. Utility of eDNA and occupancy models for monitoring an endangered fish across diverse riverine habitats. Hydrobiologia.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3723-8
Tomlinson J.A., Horak I.G. and Apanaskevich D.A. 2018. Identity of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) muhsamaeSantos Dias, 1954 (Acari: Ixodidae) and H. (R.) subterra Hoogstraal, El Kammah & Camicas, 1992, parasites of carnivores and rodents in eastern and southern Africa. Systematic Parasitology 95: 673–691.
Vongphayloth K., Hertz J.C., Lakeomany K., Apanaskevich D.A., Robbins R.G., Sutherland I.W. and Brey P.T. 2018. The genus Dermacentor (Acari: Ixodidae) in Laos: a review and update of species records. Journal of Medical Entomology 55: 1047–1050.
Vongphayloth K., Douangboubpha B., Sanamxay D., Xayaphet V., Robbins R.G., Apanaskevich D.A., Sutherland I.W. and Brey P.T. 2018. New locality records of Ixodes granulatus and Ixodes vespertilionis (Acari: Ixodidae) from tree-shrews (Scandentia: Tupaiidae) and bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) in Laos. Journal of Medical Entomology 55: 1035–1039.
Wang, W., Weaver; H. J., Song, F., Durden, L. A., and Shao, R. A new species of sucking louse, Hoplopleura villosissima n. sp. (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Hoplopleuridae) and a new host record of the spiny rat louse Polyplax spinulosa Burmeister, 1839 (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Polyplacidae) from the long-haired rat Rattus villosissimus Waite (Rodentia: Muridae) in Australia. Parasites and Vectors 11: 476. doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3037-8.
News from Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Congratulations to Dr. Ji Wu. Dr. Wu recently received funding from the National Science Foundation (Program: Research at Undergraduate Institutions) to support his research in the area of battery technology. The title of his project is "Asymmetric Membranes for High Capacity Lithium Ion Battery Anodes" and is funded for three years beginning in July 2018. The work will also fund stipends for our Georgia Southern students to perform research on this project. Click the following link for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1800619&HistoricalAwards=false
- Congratulations to Kenneth Richardson, senior B.S. Biochemistry major who was recently named an American Chemical Society Scholar for 2018-19. The ACS Scholars Program awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students majoring in undergraduate chemistry-related disciplines, and are also intending to pursue careers in chemistry-related fields. Click the following link for more on Kenneth: https://news.georgiasouthern.edu/2018/07/18/georgia-southern-college-of-science-and-mathematics-senior-wins-scholarship/
News from Geology & Geography
- G & G Homecoming Breakfast will be held on Saturday October 6th, starting at 9 AM in the Herty Conference Room; 1107. Please save the date, as more information will be forthcoming.
- With a history of racial tension dating back to the Civil Rights movement to current Orange Crush events; Georgia Southern MPH student Jeffery R. Finney & assistant professor Dr. Amy E. Potter, recently published a paper regarding this history and it was published in the Southeastern Geographer.
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/689987/pdf?mc_cid=b4cf7f6b7d&mc_eid=dcf2fa630e
News from the Mathematical Sciences Department
- Dr. Zhan Chen, Assistant Professor, has received an NSF Grant. "A Novel Computational Method For Diffuse Interface Models of Implicit Solvation of Biomolecules" The three year grant begins this fall.
- Professor Emeritus Dr. David Stone was recognized at the Mathematical Association of America's MathFest Meeting for his 50 years of service to the MAA.
- Double Eagle Keller VandeBogert will give the colloquium on the Statesboro campus on Friday August 31st at 3:30 in MP 3314. Keller is currently pursuing his PhD in mathematics at the University of South Carolina.
Dr. David Stone
Double Eagle Keller VandeBogert
News from the Physics & Astronomy Department
All colloquiums will be held in Colloquium is held in the Math/Physics Building, Room 3001 from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M.
9/10 Dr. Christine Bedore, Department of Biology, GSU
9/17 Dr. Mark Edwards, Department of Physics and Astronomy, GSU
9/24 Dr. Eleanor Sayre, Department of Physics, Kansas State University
For a full list visit our schedule: https://cosm.georgiasouthern.edu/physics/colloquium/
Planetarium Public Evening: Experience the Aurora
September 6th @ 6, 7, & 8 pm
September 7th @ 6, 7, & 8 pm
Over seven months in the Arctic Circle, our crews captured timelapse images of the Aurora Borealis with high resolution digital SLR cameras outfitted with fisheye lenses. The results are spectacular. For the first time the aurora has been captured as it was meant to be experienced, as a display that covers the entire sky. This immersive show shares the science behind the aurora and tells the story of our quest to find and photograph the aurora for wraparound display in fulldome theaters.
For information on Public Evenings: https://cosm.georgiasouthern.edu/planetarium/public-evenings-events/public-evenings-events/
For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/georgia-southern-planetarium-presents-experience-the-aurora-tickets-47235496642
Get to Know Your Dean - Featuring Dr. Delana Gajdosik - Nivens
Who inspires you?
There is no one person! So, maybe it should be "what" inspires me? That answer is "A good story." Everyone has a good story of how they got where they are and stories of struggle, success and relationships inspire me. I am also inspired by nature and being in nature--gardens, getting dirty, hiking or sightseeing. And high S/N ratios are pretty inspirational as well.
What was the best concert you ever attended?
Deluna Fest 2012--who wouldn't want to see Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Florence and the Machine and Ben Folds Five on the Beach in Pensacola. Tied for second is Alterbridge at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Elton John in Savannah, Matchbox 20 in Savannah, Indigo Girls in Charlotte, Dixie Chicks in Charlotte and the last 2 Welcome to Rockville's in Jacksonville. Live music is a bit of an obsession.
Last book you read?
Quite frankly, I rarely read actual books anymore. I listen to Audible in the car between Richmond Hill and Statesboro. The last few were: I'm Judging You: The Do Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi; Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption; Show Me a Kindness (by Armstrong's own Nancy Brandon), The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore and The Subtle Art of Not Giving....(you'll need to Google the rest of that title) by Mark Manson.
Favorite movie?
Dead Poet's Society "Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you...." and Groundhog day, because they play the Pennsylvania Polka like 25 times.
What are you currently watching on Netflix?
Ozark (Season 2), Orange is the New Black (Season 6) and patiently waiting for more Black Mirror, Wentworth and Grace and Frankie.
Secret talent no one knows about?
This is an easy one. I literally have zero talents. I have taken some violin lessons, but it is no where near a "talent". My kids would say it is nagging or being able to find the item right in front of their faces that they can't see... but neither of those are a secret. People who have worked with me for a while would say that it is the ability to organize and recall information, but a.) that's not really a talent and b.) my mind is fading so... (maybe my talent is the depth and breadth of my humor and sarcasm?)
Which four individuals, living or dead, would you like to eat dinner with?
I have trouble just answering the questions...so Dead: My grandmother, Steve Jobs, Freddie Mercury, Ronald Regan; Alive: Angela Merkel, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Rob Thomas, Ellen Degeneres (ok, that's 8 I'll stand and not eat).
Favorite family tradition?
As a kid, it was always going to eat twice at both grandparents houses for the holidays. Now that my family dynamic is very different, my favorite is going to NC for Thanksgiving every other year and making the rounds in MI and PA to see the grandkids (7 live in Michigan) and let my 11 year old play in the snow, and see my family in PA.
Favorite superhero?
It would be cliche to say Wonder Woman, because who doesn't love Jason Momoa as Aquaman, but I always wanted an invisible plane as a kid, so Wonder Woman it is.