Kowles is guest speaker at biology research symposium

The Saint Mary’s University Biology Department will host the 36th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, March 27, in the Adducci Science Center.

Students from Saint Mary’s and other colleges and universities in the tri-state region will present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 8:20 a.m. and continue until the 11:45 a.m. lunch break; presentations will then continue from 2 to 4 p.m.

The symposium’s featured presentation has been named the “R.V. Kowles Lecture” in honor of SMU Professor Emeritus Dr. Richard Kowles, longtime biology educator, author, and nationally known geneticist. Dr. Kowles is a driving force in support of undergraduate research and a founder of the symposium.

Dr. Kowles is also serving as the inaugural “R.V. Kowles Lecture” presenter. He will discuss “Can photosynthesis efficiency be increased in crops with biotechnology?: The merging of scientific disciplines to find answers” from 12:45 to 2 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

The public is invited to attend the lecture, as well as the student presentations, free of charge.