Wittenberg biological honor society encourages more student research, gains new adviser

The biology department’s Chi Chapter of Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta), a national biological honor society, has big plans for 2000.

Besides trying to double its membership and bring one internationally recognized scientist to campus each year, the Wittenberg chapter wants to foster more student interest in research and scholarly activity, and serve as an example for other honor societies on campus and nationwide.

According to its mission, Tri-Beta “seeks to encourage scholarly attainment in the field of biology by reserving its membership for those who achieve superior academic records, who indicate interest in the natural sciences, and who want to promote a better appreciation of the value of biological study.”

To be a member of Tri-Beta, a student needs to have completed a minimum of three courses in biology, have an overall grade point average in biology of 3.3 or higher, an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better and be involved with biologically oriented activities.

The chapter currently has 13 members and a new adviser, Matthew Hanson, assistant professor of biology.

“I was flattered when asked to be the Tri-Beta advisor and saw it as an opportunity to share my energy and research experience with motivated students,” Hanson said, noting that being a member of an honor society should not just be a cord around a student’s neck at graduation but a significant commitment of time and effort.

As part of that commitment, Hanson wants Tri-Beta members to educate each other and to see research as a reward unto itself. Nine out of 10 times, a researcher may fail, he noted.

“The pursuit itself is what is important.” Presently, Tri-Beta members have been conducting research in a variety of areas.

Rebecca Richards ’00, for example, assisted Tim Lewis, associate professor of biology, in using radiotelemetry this summer to track mammals and determine their home ranges at Cedar Bog in Urbana, Ohio.

Senior Elizabeth Wade, as part of the Undergraduate Biology Research Program at the University of Arizona, has spent the last two summers conducting cancer research at the Arizona Cancer Center, specifically examining squamous cell carcinoma, an extremely invasive tongue tumor line potentially caused by tobacco use.

In addition, Junior Elizabeth Hagen has been researching the biological and physicochemical characteristics of Freeland’s Cave in Ohio.

Tri-Beta members welcome alumni and friends' support as well as their ideas for research. “I want there to be a buzz on campus about Tri-Beta,” Hanson said, adding that the “benefit to students is tremendous.”