Interested in the biological and life sciences?? If so, the BSC is for you!

Meetings are every other week beginning the second week of the semester. Meetings are typically held in Bessey 2226 on Wednesday 7-8:00 p. Posters with meeting and speaker info are posted in Bessey Hall and other science buildings. Regular meetings typically involve a presentation by an invited guest regarding a biologically significant topic. Faculty, Staff and graduate students are common speakers. Professionals in a wide variety of biological science disciplines are also invited to speak. Past field trips have gone to the Floyd County Fossil and Prairie Park, hiking in McFarland Park,Henry Doorly Omaha Zoo, canoeing on the Des Moines River, hiking treks across the wilderness of Iowa, etc. 

Upcoming special events:

TBD: Check back to see upcoming BSC activities!

CLUB LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

BSC still has great leadership opportunities available! Open positions include fundraising chair, recycling chair, advertising chair, and merchandise chair.  If you are interested in any of these positions, or if you have an idea of a new position in mind, please reach out to any of our current club officers:
President- Caroline Dickhausen (Cgd2025@iastate.edu)
Vice President- Kacy Oberbroeckling (kacyanne@iastate.edu)
Treasure- Rachael Currant (rcurrant@iastate.edu)
Secretary- Michael Kumar (mrkumar@iastate.edu)
Fundraising Chair- Clarissa Carolan (csc1@iastate.edu)
Social Outreach Chair- Taylor Grasz (tgrasz@iastate.edu)
Creative Director- Piper Vinz (piper@iastate.edu)

BSC Meeting Schedule for Spring 2023 (Meetings held on Wednesday's in Bessey 210 at 7:00 PM)

BSC Meeting Recaps
 

Past Semester BSC Meetings and Activities

Other past activities of possible interest:

December 2^nd 2022 from 12-2 PM: will be the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Atrium of Bessey Hall. More information about this event will be coming soon! 

Biology and Genetics are hosting a Meals From the Heartland community service activity:
When: Saturday, October 15, 2022 (ISU football game is away)
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Where: Molecular Biology Building Atrium
Our goal is to package between 20,000 - 40,000 meals !!!!

8:30-10 AM: setup
10-12: Package thousands and thousands of meals
12-1:30 PM: Cleanup
How do I get involved and volunteer?
We also really need volunteers to assist in setup and cleanup. 
Setup will start at 8:30 AM, cleanup will take about an hour or so after the final food package has been sealed (~12:00-1:30 PM).

For additional information email: dssakagu@iastate.edu.

CLUB DUES (due in August)
Club dues are $10 per semester or $15 for the entire year.  Dues-paying members get to enjoy the snacks we provide after every meeting, which have historically included pizza, Insomnia cookies, and other great treats.  If you are interested in becoming a dues-paying member, please bring cash to the next club meeting you attend!

A person’s college years can be one of the most exciting chapters in a life story, and a major reason for that is the sheer quantity of opportunities available to take advantage of.  The Biology Program encourages students to actively engage with campus activities beyond the classroom to learn new skills, make connections, and have fun!    

Learning Communities

For more than twenty years, the Biology Program has offered a learning community to engage incoming first-year students with our major and assist with college adjustment. Learn more about our Biology Education Success Team (BEST).

Students can be part of more than one learning community, and these communities may also be of interest to Biology majors:

• Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE)
• BOLD Learning Community 

Student Organizations

Iowa State University is home to hundreds of student organizations which provide opportunities for social engagement, professional development, and leadership experiences.  Students in the Biology Program can participate in our Biological Sciences Club to network with other Biology majors.  Other clubs of interest to many of our students include various pre-professional clubs (e.g., Pre-Medical Professions Club, Pre-Pharmacy Club, Pre-Veterinary Club), additional biology-related academic clubs (e.g., Genetics Club, Iowa State Environmental Science Club, Psychology Club), and various recreation clubs (e.g., Fishing Club, Martial Arts Club).

Field Trip Courses and Study Abroad

Field trip courses offered by the Biology Program provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about biology through hands-on experience.  These experiences may be within North America (BIOL 393) or international (BIOL 394), and count directly towards biology degree requirements as advanced coursework. We currently offer a couple trips in marine biology, an exploration of the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and trips to Valencia, Spain. More information on our field trip courses and study abroad.

Internships

Biology students are encouraged to seek out and participate in internships that relate to their aspirations as budding biological scientists.  The Biology Program offers advanced biology credit for students who have such an experience and arrange a BIOL 494 course with a faculty or staff member.  More information about the BIOL 494 can be found here.  

Finding an internship can be a challenge, but there are several resources available to help.  Students can always talk with their advisor about opportunities they are aware of.  The following resources for internship hunting are suggested as well:

Research

As a major research university, there are plenty of opportunities for students to engage in research during their undergraduate studies. Learn more about research opportunities in biology at Iowa State. 

Teaching

Being a skilled communicator is among the most employable qualities, and teaching experiences help cultivate such skills.  More information about teaching opportunities.

Scholarships

Many scholarships are available to assist students in paying for college. Scholarships are available for new incoming freshman and transfer students, as well as currently enrolled or continuing students.  Learn more about scholarship opportunities.

University Honors Program

Biology students with outstanding academic records may want to consider applying for the Honors Program if they are not already participants.  Honors students get to register for classes earlier, enroll in honors sections of courses, have a higher credit limit each semester, and have access to additional opportunities within the program.  Check out the Honors Program website for more information.