Gustavus Adolphus College

Beta Beta Beta National Biological Society was founded in 1922. The Iota Rho Chapter at Gustavus was installed in 1977. The society is composed of Biology majors and persons with an interest in the biological sciences. The purpose of Tri-Beta as outlined in the national Charter is: 1) to promote scholarship in the biological sciences, 2) to promote the dissemination of biological knowledge, and 3) to encourage research. The regional convention is held every spring and the National Convention is held every other year, usually in June. This provides a forum for undergraduate research to be presented. The requirements for membership in Beta Beta Beta are: 1) full membership: at least two completed biology courses and a 3.0+ GPA in biology courses, 2) associate memberships: an interest in biological sciences. The local chapter at Gustavus is involved in a variety of social as well as academic activities. Department seminars, group meetings, and social dinners allow Biology students to interact with each other in addition to becoming better acquainted with faculty outside of the classroom.

Local Chapter: The Iota Rho chapter of Beta Beta Beta dates back to 1977 when a group of students sought a national organization that focused on biology research, particularly at the undergraduate level. In the past 23 years, Gustavus students have been active in presentations of their research at regional conventions (held every year) and at national conventions (held ever other year). This past year (Spring 2000), the regional convention was held at Bethel College in St. Paul and the national convention was held in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Chanda Reidel won a first place award for her presentation at the regional convention and as a consequence received a travel grant to re-present her work at the meeting in Puerto Rico in June. Tim Wilson, as President of the local chapter, also attended and presented his research at the national meeting.

On our campus, the biology honor society functions as the biology club. It welcomes all students as members, although full membership students must meet the national criteria for the honor society. All others are associate members on the national level, but fully participating in the groups activities on the local level.

The chapter's main function is to foster research in biology and celebrate the study of biology in a number of ways. They also have fun doing things that biologists like to do. There are seminars in the biology department which have been scheduled by Iota Rho and the chapter acts as host to most of the department visitors. The students become active in many of the functions of the department, including an assessment of potential staff, when appropriate. There are pizza parties, meet-the-profs nights, highway clean-up on selected Saturdays, banquets and impromptu dinners at professors homes. For the last few years, the group has hosted the final biology picnic, known affectionately as "Hotter than Hell" day based on the various pepper laced dishes that are served.

In addition, the club has volunteered as ushers at Nobel Conferences, planned Arbor Day celebrations with the Chapel staff which included planting trees, assisted in various mapping of biological resources on campus, worked on river bank clean-up and participated in a number of open houses and receptions for students visiting Gustavus and who are interested in Biology.

This year's slate of officers are:
President: Kathryn N. Pesch
Vice President: Lindsey J. TeBrake
Secretary: Holly L. Cooper
Treasurer: Michael D. Stangler
Social Coordinator: Christopher Stark
Historian: Ashley R. Baumann
Advisor: Dr. Jon Grinnell

Please contact any one of these to obtain more information about our local chapter.

National Tri-Beta website