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"It's hard to date ... when the bubble in Holland formed, but the autumn of 1635 marked a turning point. That's when the trade in actual [tulip] bulbs gave way to the trade in ... slips of paper listing details of the flowers in question, the dates they would be delivered, and their price."

February 2, 1637, the bubble burst ... "within days tulip bulbs were unsellable at any price."

Michael Pollan, The Botany of Desire

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Things I have learned in the last three years (from students involved in research).

1. White faced capuchin monkeys like junk food and will threaten you if you don't hand over the goods.

2. Miscanthus is almost impossible to dig up.

3. Medical services don't solve problems when the root cause is poverty.

4. It is, at least for some, possible to walk into the cashier's area in the administrative building carrying a newly sharpened machete, and be greeted as if it is a cool thing.

5. It really is true that you can do research in any area of biology and have it be part of the IB Honors curriculum.

6. Pizza lunches with visiting faculty are popular not only for the food, but for the interaction with the professors.

7. It is impossible to bring too much food on an Ecology camping trip.

8. Based on the activities and achievements of IB Honors students, the "24 hour" day is optional.

9. Anything really can be petitioned.

10. Daphnia produced by sexual reproduction are dormant and very hard to wake up.

The IB Honors Biology recruiting program is entering its fourth year. This is one of the most crucial times for us because our future depends on the success we have in recruiting top students.

Obviously, this is a bit of a circular process. The students we want to attract look at the students we already have, at how they have done, at how enthusiastic they are, and at where they are going after they graduate.

In our first year, the "old" honors biology program was just ending, after a run of nearly 40 years. Without models to look at, the class graduating this year, 2009, really didn't have much to go on, other than the idea that this experience would be a really good one. In the second year, potential students were hearing that independent research was a reality, not just an experience to hope for, and that it was turning out to be really exciting. But there still wasn't much of a track record to show in all those other required courses... and still no history of grad and med school admissions.

By our third year, this one, there were enough "experienced" students around to offer encouragement, and it was beginning to look good for post-graduation success... overall GPAs were good, visibility of IB Honors students across the campus was good, and IB Honors TAs were identifying students from the IB150 sections they taught in other semesters. IB Honors RAs were recruiting. IB Honors TAs in Chemistry were recruiting. Students began finding us even without advertisements. Based on their experience with us, all the biology advisors have been more than helpful, pointing lots of good students our way and really working with the ones we have to get them where they need to go.

So far this year, nearly a dozen potential students, at least one who is still in high school, have come to see me. The class of 2009 has been applying to graduate and medical and pharmacy schools, and prospects look good. Professors have been telling me wonderful things about their research students, and coming to me asking if there are any others that they could have in their labs.

Things are looking good but, no, we are not there yet. So settle down back there; enjoy the view. We are not turning around and going home.

Last updated: 1/7/2009