DR. ELLEN KETTERSON RECEIVES ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY'S EXEMPLAR AWARD Dr. Ellen Ketterson,received the Exemplar Award from the Animal Behavior Society for her major long-term contributions to animal behavior, including her work on avian migratory behavior in relation to dominance status and experimental factors and her work on reproductive hormones as mediators of life history trade-offs. Her current research goals are to investigate the extended phenotypic effects of testosterone on a junko male's associates, including his mate and offspring. Her studies of migration focus on factors that promote site fidelity, the role of experience in regulating onset and termination of migration and the relative importance of selective factors in shaping the distance an individual migrates.

DR. CRAIG NELSON RECEIVES P.A. MACK AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO TEACHING Dr. Craig Nelson, professor of biology and of public and environmental affairs received the 2003 P.A. Mack Award for Distinguished Service to Teaching at the annual FACET Retreat at Lake Monroe in May. Nelson regularly teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in evolution and ecology. He has also taught several interdisciplinary courses, including a graduate course on "Alternative Approaches to Teaching College Biology." He has been consulting editor for College Teaching and conducted Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes for high school biology teachers to foster higher-level critical thinking skills in high school students. In 2000, Nelson was named one of four "U. S. Professors of the Year" from a field of 500 faculty nationwide by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. CISAB congratulates Dr. Nelson on his outstanding achievements over the years.

DR. GREGORY DEMAS RECEIVES FRANK A. BEACH AWARD IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY Dr. Gregory E. Demas is one of this year's recipients of the Frank A. Beach Award for original research in behavioral neuroendocrinology. His laboratory has been investigating the role of energy balance in immune function of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). These animals undergo reductions in body fat in winter compared to summer and can be stimulated to do so in response to short "winter-like" day lengths in controlled laboratory conditions. Demas and his lab associates have found that along with a decrease in total body fat in response to short day lenghts, hamsters also show reduced levels of humoral immunity. Treatment with leptin, an exogenous hormone, can restore immune function to normal. Although it is clear that body fat and leptin play an important role in energetic regulation of immune function, the precise mechanism is unknown. His current research focuses on the following questions: 1. Do changes in total body fat affect immunity? 2. Does the adipose hormone leptin act as a neuroendocrine signal communicating between the brain and the immune system? 3. What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system in mediating these neuro-endocrine-immune interactions? Dr. Demas will present a short talk about his research entitled "Energetics of Immunity" at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (Nov. 2-7, Orlando, FL). The text of the lecture will also be published in Hormones and Behavior.

Top CISAB Home ABOUT US The Center Memberships CISAB NEWS & EVENTS Mailing Lists & Newsletters Funding Opportunities CISAB Members in the News Upcoming Events PEOPLE Current Faculty & Scientists Current Students and Staff Alumni ACADEMIC PROGRAMS For Undergraduate Students For Graduate Students Summer Programs ANIMAL BEHAVIOR INFO Info & Links for Teachers Info & Links for Kids Careers in Animal Behavior Professional Societies CISAB ARCHIVES CISAB Member Research CISAB Seminar/Video Library CISAB Course Archive