End of the year BBQ!

Hello BGSA! To cap off a great school year, the Biology Graduate Students Association (BGSA) is hosting a FREE BBQ on Thursday June 5th beginning at 4pm. We've also bought some softball equipment and will be organizing a pick-up softball game starting at 6pm. If you're interested in playing, please bring a glove if you have one! WHO: All biology graduate students and postdocs, profs and other biology folk WHAT: BBQ (veggie and meat options), drinks (free soda and beers at cost) & softball WHEN: Thursday June 5th from 4-6 pm, softball from 6pm till it's over or Thomson House kicks us out. WHERE: Reservoir field, the big grassy field across from Thomson House between Dr Penfield, des Pins and McTavish WHY: Because the food is FREE and we're lots of fun to hang out with! This is a great way to meet new students, catch up with old friends, and kick off the summer. You don't have to be able to catch, throw or hit the ball in order to play with us! Please bring your labmates! Hope to see you there!

BGSA Travel Grant deadline!

Hey BGSA! This is a reminder about the BGSA travel grant. It’s due a week from Wednesday, on April 9! Attached is the form you need to fill out. Here is a reminder of the details: BGSA Travel Grant The grant is $400 and can be used for conferences falling between September 1st, 2013 and August 31th, 2014. If you've already attended a conference within that time frame, the grant may be used retroactively. For more details and policies, please see the second page of the application, attached here or available available on the BGSA website, in the "Grants" section: mcgillbgsa.weebly.com To apply, please fill out the application and return it to me, Mary-Rose, via email (preferable) or by printing it and dropping it off to me in Bellini room 232 or lab 270. Applications are due April 9th, and a list of winners will be drawn randomly on April 11th and announced that day by email. The grant will be offered to the first person on the list (first name drawn), but in the event that this person declines the grant or becomes ineligible, it will be offered to the next person on the list, and so on until either the award is claimed or the award period ends. Winners must accept or decline the award by April 30th. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns Good luck! Mary-Rose

Welcome back, everyone!!

The BGSA is hosting a FREE Welcome back/Orientation/Karaoke night at Thompson House next Wednesday!! WHO: All Biology Graduate Students and Postdocs WHAT: Beer, Nachos & Karaoke WHEN: Wednesday January 15th from 4pm till it's over or Thomson House kicks us out. WHERE: Thomson House Basement (3650 Rue McTavish) WHY: Because the food & drinks are FREE and we're lots of fun to hang out with! This is a great way to meet new students, catch up with old friends, and kick off the new semester. Please bring your labmates! Hope to see you there! Your friendly neighbourhood BGSA

BGSA Winter Retreat

Hello BGSA and Welcome back! Here is a reminder about the Adirondacks trip in a few weeks (look below for the info and links) Several people have signed up already but there are still about 10 stops left so SIGN UP SOON if you are still interested in coming along. This email is also a reminder for people to bring in there deposits, we would like to have them by this Friday. So please bring a $20 Deposit to Mary-Rose (Bellini 266), Me (Stuart N5/5), or Claudia (N4/6) to reserve your spot. Emails sent after today will include only the people who have signed up to reduce listserve spam. Thank you for your time, and sign up! Scott Check your email for the link to sign up!

BGSA Holiday Party: Jingle Bell-curves Rock

Hey BGSA! This year's Biology Holiday Party "Jingle Bell-curves Rock" will be on Thursday December 5th at the Thompson House. Doors will open at 6pm, and dinner will be served around 7pm. It's going to be a great night filled with food, entertainment from your very own BGSA, and lots of dancing! Also this year we will be holding the first ever departmental lip syncing contest! I know we're all a very competitive bunch as was demonstrated at this year's pumpkin carving contest so please sign up to participate (email Kiyoko with your name and song) and bring your A-game because I know we are :D If lip syncing is not your thing, but you still want to compete in something, there will also be a baking contest with details on that coming soon from Dieta. Bring all your labmates, profs, staff and significant others!! Especially this year lets all really try to get our profs to come out like they used to in previous years! Tickets are on sale now: $15 for Faculty and Staff (and non-McGill) $10 for Grads and Postdocs free for children They can be purchased from the following sellers: Stewart Bio: Claudia Wever - office N4/6; lab N4/7 Redpath Museum: Andrea Morden: office 104 (Ricciardi Lab) Bellini: Mary-Rose Bradley-Gill - office 232; lab 270 I will also be carrying some tickets around with me at the EEL and Organismal Seminars for the next few weeks. There's a limited number of tickets so don't wait till the last minute because they will sell out!!