Consultants on the planned new Core Sciences Building met with user groups from each department in the Faculty of Science in early February.  A small Biochemistry group composed of faculty and staff, chaired by the head Dr. Phil Davis, met with the consultants on February 4.  The consultants were looking for input on specific departmental needs at this time.  Specific room needs will be addressed at later dates as planning progresses.  Information on the proposed new building can be found on the main university news site, in the Gazette, and on the Faculty of Science news site.

Pancake Day on February 12 found three staff members following their tradition of serving pancakes at lunchtime to anyone who wished to part-take.  This event was first held when an international graduate student in the department queried what the day meant.  Staff decided a show-and tell was in order, and that year prepared the pancakes with traditional “cooked-in” objects such as coins.  This year was the 25^th time the lunch was held.

The Office of Emergency Management gave a seminar to department members on February 8.  Their topic was “Active Intruder on Campus” and the presenters were Karen Alexander and Holly Tobin.  This was an awareness presentation on an important safety matter and the session was quite informative.   

MUCEP applications were underway in February, with funds applied for by supervisors for the period May 2013 to April 2014.  Last year 21 applications were submitted and 38.5 eighty-hour positions were funded.  Twenty-three applications were submitted this year. Completed forms were due into the department office on February 27 for head`s approval and forwarding to CDEL.

Jenny John, research assistant in Dr. Shahidi's lab on an intermittent basis over the last number of years, and her husband welcomed a son named John February 3rd.  Congratulations to the family!