The Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences (AGSBS), Faculty of Science, invites York University community members to attend its 42nd Annual Biology Symposium on Friday, May 13, from 2:30 to 9pm.
The theme of this year’s symposium is “Science in society: A current day perspective” and the program highlights research in cellular and molecular biology, physiology and ecology, to demonstrate the impact of the full scope of biology on society.
“The symposium is our biggest event of the year, and it’s really meant to unite academics with networking,” said Paige Whyte-Fagundes, chair of the symposium committee. “Students and faculty will have an opportunity to learn about new research, mix and mingle, and initiate new collaborations.”
The event will kick off with a judged poster presentation session by graduate students from the Department of Biology and a pre-dinner social in the Accolade East Building, CIBC Lobby.
Guests will then be invited to the Private Dining Room in the Schulich Executive Learning Centre for dinner and presentations by external speakers: Dale Laird, professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University; Alan Davidson, professor in the Departments of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the University of Toronto; and Daphne Goring, professor in the Department of Cell & Systems Biology at the University of Toronto.
Laird is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Anatomy and Cell Biology. He is investigating the role of connexins and pannexins in various human diseases, including a wide array of skin diseases and developmental disorders. He is currently leading the field of gap junctions in health and disease.
Davidson’s research interests include investigating phages that infect Pseudomonas aeruginos, a leading pathogen causing illness in immunocompromised individuals, with a long-term goal of developing phage-based therapies. He is exploring the use of bacterial viruses as antibiotics against pathogens that impact individuals with recent burns, cystic fibrosis and AIDS.
Goring is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her research focuses on understanding how plant cells communicate through signal transduction pathways to regulate plant growth and development. Goring’s research bridges the gap between cellular and molecular biology, and ecology.
The evening will close with an announcement of the Poster Presentation Award by Bridget Stutchbury, professor and graduate program director in the Department of Biology.
Tickets are still available. For more information about the symposium and to register, visit http://agsbs.yugsa.ca/
Established in 1973, the AGSBS represents master’s and doctoral students in the Department of Biology at York University. It is a student-propelled organization that strives to enhance graduate student experiences through science and recreation.