An article co-authored by Ernest Williams, the Christian A. Johnson Excellence in Teaching Professor of Biology, appears in the current issue of the Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society. “Overwintering clusters of the monarch butterfly coincide with the least hazardous vertical temperatures in the oyamel forest” presents the results of the authors’ study of the impact of temperature on the survival of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico.

Photos taken by Ernest Williams for his book The Nature Handbook (2005) are currently being exhibited at The Old Forge Arts Center through July 28.  Williams is the Christian A. Johnson  Excellence in Teaching Professor of Biology.

Professor of Biology Herm Lehman gave an invited lecture titled “Monooxygenases: from neurotransmitter synthesis to neurogenesis” to members of the Neuroscience, Metabolism and Aging, and HTS Lead Identification Departments at the Scripps Institute, Jupiter, Fla., on April 20.

Six Hamilton students and two biology faculty members participated in the 2011 Northeast Natural History Conference held at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany, N.Y., on April 7. The group made six poster presentations based on summer and senior thesis research.

A paper co-authored by Christian A. Johnson Professor of Biology Ernest Williams titled"Decline of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico: is the migratory phenomenon at risk?" is the subject of an article on the homepage of Science News dated April 4.

Two groups of local third-grade students recently enjoyed some hands-on science learning with the help of Hamilton’s science faculty. For about 20 years, Professor of Biology Dave Gapp has organized “Science Exploration Days” which bring classes of elementary school students to Hamilton for guided tours and short lessons in various areas of science.

President Joan Hinde Stewart announced the passing of Professor of Biology Emeritus Eugene Putala in an e-mail to the campus community on April 4.

An article co-authored by Ernest Williams, the Christian A. Johnson Excellence in Teaching Professor of Biology, recently appeared online in the journal Insect Conservation and Diversity. “Decline of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico: is the migratory phenomenon at risk?” will appear in a forthcoming print issue of the publication, which is a journal of the Royal Entomological Society.

Patrick D. Reynolds, professor of biology at Hamilton, has been appointed dean of faculty at the college, effective July 1, 2011. He is currently serving in that capacity on an interim basis.

Ernest Williams, the Christian A. Johnson Professor of Biology, gave a talk at Utica College sponsored by the Asa Gray Biological Society on Feb. 28. The title was "Microclimate benefits for monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico," and the talk was based on work he has done in Mexico over the past several years.