Telomere Times Issue 8

The Telomere Times

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY Issue 8 | Winter 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

The Hive CafĂŠ Solidarity Cooperative Study Abroad: Concordia Student Exchange Program (CSEP) The Concordia Galapagos Project

Brought to you by

Executive Board Editor-In-Chief Katherine Levasseur

Executive Editor Zarin Arshy

Writers Danielle Mac Rae Charles Plaisir Arun Dayanadan Alex Assimakopulos

Graphic Designer Yi Ying Tang Katherine Levasseur

Editorial “There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” -Aldous Huxley

Welcome back junior Biologists to a whole new year of the Telomere Times!

Now that we have settled cozily into 2016 and the haze of setting impractical resolutions has dissipated, the time is right to realistically evaluate our goals. With one-twelfth of the year rapidly scuttling past us, we have to ask ourselves, what will the next eleven months represent for me? How will I or do I want to change as a person, and where can I start?

Thus, to kick start the year, we have jam-packed this issue with essential information to help you plan your school year and further your ambitions, both academic and personal. If you are interested in eating more nutritious, wholesome foods or supporting environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable food systems, Danielle Mac Rae’s interview with the Hive Free Lunch Program is a must-read. If you want to get in touch with your Biology roots while volunteering, exploring a tropical paradise and earning course credits, look and be inspired by Charles Plaisir’s information page on the Galapagos Project. If your new goals include being more socially or academically engaged, we have you covered here as well. In scanning this edition, you will find information on the latest social and academic events, and seminars. Finally, if you ever dreamt of not only traveling, but also immersing yourself in the culture of another country for months at a time, absolutely check out the our VP Internal, Arun Dayanadan’s and Alex Assimakopulos’s piece on their captivating adventures as exchange students in Australia!

Before I let you dart over to our highly informative articles, I would like to both inspire you and pay tribute to a beloved member of the Concordia Biology community: Dr. Sonish Azam. After completing several post-docs, working in hospitals and the industry sector, Sonish served as an assistant professor here at Concordia University. During her seven years here, she taught an amazingly wide range of courses from Nutrition to Immunology to Human Physiology and many more. Yet, what is most astonishing is that despite her impressive background, she continued to further her journey as a professional.

In December 2015, Sonish completed her last semester of teaching at Concordia University. She currently works as a Medical Science Liaison for Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceuticals division in Vancouver, British Columbia. As she reaches new heights, she reminds us to embrace change and continue challenging ourselves. We will miss you here at Concordia and wish you all the best, Sonish.

And to everyone else, as always, happy reading!

Yours truly, Zarin Arshy

I

Table of Contents Sustainability at Concordia: An interview with Ev Daoust and Emily Crawley of the Hive Free Lunch Program

Pages 1-4

From Wolves to Wombats : An Australian Exchange Experience with Arun Dayanandan and Alexander Assimakopoulos

Pages 5-12

The Concordia Galapagos Project

Pages 13-14

MedSpecs Information

Pages 15

Upcoming Academic Events

Pages 16-19

Upcoming Social Events

Pages 20-24

Other Events

Page 25-26

Your BSA Executives

Pages 27-28

The Newsletter Team

Page 29

II

Brought to you by The Hive Co-op

Written by Danielle Mac Rae

Sustainability at Concordia Interview with Ev Daoust and Emily Crawley of the Hive Free Lunch Program

T

he Hive Café Solidarity Cooperative is a non-profit organization run by students at Concordia University. As a solidarity, the co-op is composed of three distinct member groups: the workers, supporters and the users. This model was chosen to ensure fair representation among the board of directors. You might ask “why is this important?” or “what does this mean?”.

The vision of the Hive Café is to run an accessible food system which is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable as well as locally operated. Their mission is to be a model food system at Concordia as a sustainable food system run by students.

The values they uphold include providing healthy, local and varied food which is ethically grown, affordable, accessible and sustainable, as well as providing a safe community space without racism, sexism, judgement or oppression and maintaining fair labour and representation.

To ensure that the vision, mission and the values of the Hive are upheld, having a collaborative and non-hierarchical internal body, where all members have an equal voice in decision making, is essential. Hence, the decision of a solidarity. The board has a total of twelve seats, including three reserved for Concordia students, all of whom work hard to bring, and keep, sustainability to Concordia.

Sustainability is the main focus of the Hive - what they work to achieve daily. They do this in the three primary ways, as stated in their vision: Socially, the Hive Co-op doesn’t support suppliers who are socially irresponsible, such as those who have promoted racism, sexism, or inequality.

Instead they collaborate with other sustainable food groups on campus and locally. This aspect also includes the Co-op Solidarity Model ensuring equal voice for the worker members, supporter members and user members in their representation.

Environmentally, the Co-op doesn’t work with suppliers who are environmentally irresponsible.

Instead, they try to buy produce in season specifically from local suppliers for their products including tea, honey, dairy and fresh produce (to see the full source map, please visit http:// www.hivecafe.ca/). They compost and recycle to decrease their own waste as well as use compostable ‘take it to-go’ items, have reusable dishes and incentivise customers to bring their own mugs.

Economically, they abide by fair labour laws, revalue product prices to remain fair and affordable to their customers and their suppliers. They are a non-profit organization remaining financially self-sustaining.

The Hive Co-op has locations in both the Loyola and SWG campuses. Not only do they run the Hive Cafés, but also provide a free vegan lunch every weekday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, relying on volunteers to function and feed as many as 300 students daily. Although the Hive free lunch is run within the Co-op, it functions mainly as a separate entity from the Hive Cafe.

In an online interview, co-coordinators, Ev Daoust and Emily Crawley, of the Hive Free Lunch (HFL) spoke about their supplier's, financial standing, sustainability policies, as well as what the student body can do to make their jobs easier and help maintain the free lunch program provided to the community.

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Where does the free lunch get their supplies for the meals? Is it the same local suppliers as the Hive Café?

HFL: We get free lunch ingredients for meals from Can Am, Clic, Aubut, Costco, Jardins de la Resistance, Concordia greenhouse and City Farm School. We do not use the same suppliers as the Hive Café, as in general, the Hive tries to use as many organic ingredients as possible, and while we sometimes use some of the same suppliers, we cannot afford, on our budget, to use the same suppliers as the Hive Café, as we feed students full meals on $0.80 per person per day.

How can the Hive Co-op afford to have the meals be free? Where does the funding come from other than the CSU? HFL: The budget for the Hive Free Lunch Program is entirely separate from the Hive Café budget. Therefore, we do not share funding in any way. And while the Café supports the Free Lunch Program, by providing us a free kitchen, and taking care of the accounting for the project, the Free Lunch Grant from the CSU, and any other money provided to the Free Lunch is strictly used for paying for Free Lunch labor, equipment and food. While it may seem like it could be detrimental to the sales of the Café, in actuality, we bring the crowd and community to the SC building, which benefits the Café. Also, it helps that in attempting to provide healthy delicious food, we do not make des-

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serts for the Free Lunch, so after eating a delicious meal, people head to the Café to get their brownies and other affordable delicious treats, which they have the money to buy since they didn't pay for lunch.

Why is there so much stress on the meals being vegetarian? Does this have to do with the locality of the food sources?

HFL: We have received $5000 this year from [the Concordia Council on Student Life (CCSL)] to help with the added growth at the Free Lunch Program. We are serving 50% more people this year, than last, amounting to an average of 230 people per day. The grant from CCSL has helped us buy vegetables for more and more people, and has helped us keep the meals vegetable packed, nutritionally dense, and with a protein source. We have also received $200 from Concordia Food Coalition for hot sauce workshops which allow us to make our own Hive Free Lunch Hot Sauce every 3 weeks, while teaching others how as well. We also received $1000 in donations last semester from people accessing this service, who want to make sure we can buy all the delicious ingredients we use to feed them.

There is potential that we might get funding from ASFA as well, but it is yet to be confirmed. CSU provides the bulk of our funding, providing $43,500 this year. However, we experienced a vast and unprecedented growth in people accessing this ser-

vice, which is why we sought other sources for additional funding this year. Still, the CSU really sustains this program with their funding, and we would not be here without it. Our funding from CSU may increase next year, if it is agreed upon by council, in order to provide for the growing number of students accessing this service.

As co-coordinators of the Hive Free Lunch, do the sustainability policies upheld by The Hive have specific meaning to you?

HFL: The emphasis on vegetarian food comes from a need for affordable, accessible food. Meat and dairy products would put a huge strain on the budget for the free lunch, not to mention the fact that it would greatly impact clean up, food safety regulations, and crosscontamination. We try to provide food free of allergens as much as possible, and accommodate food restrictions people have.

Having vegan, mostly nutfree lunches, with gluten free options goes a long way to help provide food for people with allergies and food restrictions. On average we spend between $0.60 and $1 on food per person per day. This could not be done if we did not serve vegan meals. Additionally, while the current two cooks happen to be vegan, it is in no way our goal to convert people to veganism. However, we recognize the burden that factory farming has on the environment, and as such, having 200 - 300 people eat a vegan meal, 5 days

a week, the impact on the environment, even just in terms of conserving water, is immense.

Has the social, economic and environmental responsibilities that the Hive works daily to achieve been difficult financially in regards of the free lunch?

HFL: The Hive Free Lunch does the best it can to uphold the Hive's sustainability policies. For example, we planted our own organic garlic with City Farm School.

When available, we get our organic ingredients from the most local source possible, City Farm School, located right in our backyard. We also prevent the usage of packaging by making our own hot sauce from scratch.

We compost everything we can, and recycle everything we can as well. If there are ever leftovers, we incorporate them into other meals, or send them home with volunteers. By cooking in large numbers, we eliminate a lot of the waste that would come about if each of these people ate anywhere else.

We use reusable dishes, and have dish washing stations set up in a way that conserves water. Essentially, in every way we can with our current capacity and funding, we are moving toward more sustainable practices.

We are working on setting up a free food partnership with a local Montreal organization that distributes "predumpstered" food, saving the food that would otherwise be thrown out.

What kind of support can students at the school give to help The Hive Co-op continue their sustainability policies as well as the free lunches?

HFL: We believe that the social, economic and environmental responsibilities that the Hive Free Lunch works to achieve actually benefits us financially. We rely on volunteers to help with every aspect of preparing, serving and cleaning up from free lunch. By investing in these ideals, we help foster a community of volunteers who are invested in, and interested in contrib-

uting to a social, economic, environmental, sustainable project. Having a community of regular volunteers greatly reduces the labor hours needed by the two coordinators. Furthermore, by providing free lunch on a tight budget, we work on ways to make inspired, delicious food for cheap. As much as possible, we also try to create a safe space for people accessing this service and for our volunteers. As we are invested in antioppression; we have created an environment where respect, accountability to privileges, and positioning oneself in opposition to systemic oppressions, is highly valued.

This provides an opportunity for people who are systemically oppressed to not only access free nutritionally dense food, but also a community of support for their identities. We believe that this keeps us grounded in the larger picture of where the Free Lunch Program is situated in our society, and it allows giving back to the community.

The Hive Free Lunch needs student help in a variety of ways 1. Volunteering anytime between 9:30AM - 3PM on Concordia schooldays.

2. Donating any amount of money whenever possible.

3. Coming to our hot sauce workshops (we can always use human power to help make our hot sauce happen!).

4. Ensuring that the 2nd floor of the SC building continues to be a safe space by making sure to contribute to this, such as by informing others about their actions, and stopping oppressive or inappropriate behaviour.

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Come to the HIVE (SC-200) for FREE lunch! Monday to Friday 12:30-1:30PM

For more information connect with the HIVE! www.hivecafe.ca Facebook: Hive Free Lunch Page 4

From Wolves to Wombats: The Australian Exchange Experience with Arun Dayanandan and Alexander Assimakopoulos

I

n Fall 2015, two of Concordia’s brightest and boldest biology students took part in the trip of a lifetime when they were accepted into the exchange program to the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Traveling over 16,000 km, Arun Dayanandan and Alexander Assimakopoulos spent the next 4 months studying the intricacies of Australian flora and fauna from some of the top researchers in the world in order to broaden their understanding of the island continent.

Balancing hard work with exploration, the duo return with stories of their travels as well as advice for future generations of students who may be considering going on an exchange themselves.

1. So you both are Concordia biology students and wound up on exchange at the same university. What made you choose the University of New South Wales and Australia, in general?

Arun: Australia always seemed to be this exotic land you would only read about in fairy tales. Growing up in North America, the idea of a crimson-hued desert wasteland where large hopping mammals routinely hosted boxing matches in the streets while grey half-stoned fur balls slept the days away in the treetops seemed stranger than fiction. Combined with the fact that it hosts one of the world’s oldest continually practicing aboriginal cultures, it’s not any wonder why the island continent held the top position on my bucket list for all these years.

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The University of New South Wales in Sydney stood out as being a place where there was just as much involvement in the community as there was in academic prowess. Many of the faculty in the biology department are involved in a range of exciting external projects, from educating and inspiring the public on sciencerelated issues to heading internationally recognized institutions devoted to the conservation and study of many natural phenomena.

Their experience becomes very apparent during the lectures as they bring this knowledge with them to the classroom, and acts as an important resource to young undergraduates in the midst of planning their careers.

Alex: While choosing a host for my exchange, I wanted to find a country I

would have difficulty traveling to during my lifetime and something that would help bolster my education.

As such, when it comes down to countries of the world that could contribute to having an adventure of a lifetime, and countries that have an unparalleled learning environment, Australia is second to none. Having exceptional conservation efforts and a plethora of unique organisms, it is easy to understand why Australia is an ecologist’s dream.

Even if you are not an ecology fan, everyone can take away something from this beautiful land. As such, my choice for exchange could not have been simpler. People only dream of travelling Down Under, and I could not think of a greater challenge, both academically and for my academic and personal growth, than venturing to such a fara-

way place.

As for the host institution, the University of New South Wales is prestigious and absolutely gorgeous. They are very friendly towards international students and make your stay incredibly comfortable.

2. How are the semesters divided abroad? When did you have time off?

Arun: I attended semester 2 , meaning my first class took place on August 27 and the last final exam on November 22. There was also a mid -semester break lasting from September 28 to October 2, though I spent a large portion of mine in the field for one of my classes.

Alex: Australia does not refer to semesters by

3. What are the facilities like around campus?

Was there a lot for students to do?

that allow you to get involved in almost anything you can think of.

There are individual costs associated with these, but they are very fairly priced for a starving student. I spent a large amount of time with the Outdoors Club which host’s multiple weekly student climbing nights as well as trips every weekend that include canyoning, hiking, climbing, etc. I also got involved with the local chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology, which gave me stronger insight into the types of research that Australian scientists have been tackling.

Arun: There is a multistory library on campus, as well as a gym and pool that is affiliated with the local YMCA. In addition, there is a wide array of sports teams and clubs

Alex: Somewhat like Concordia, the campus area was massive, taking almost an entire suburb in area to cover it. It is also equipped with fences all around that display

the names of the seasons. Instead, it refers to the semesters by Semester 1 and Semester 2 (with summer semesters starting after Semester 2). Semester 1 runs from March to July whereas Semester 2 runs from July to November. After Semester 2 in November, there is the summer break (much like ours in duration but during our own winter season). During my stay, I was there for semester 2 and I arrived mid-July.

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the borders of the school. Being this grand, there were many facilities, some specifically geared towards international and study-abroad students. For instance, there were multiple housing areas within the school with their own IGA Supermarket inside the campus. There were also pharmacies, travel agencies and travel/ health insurance outposts throughout the campus. There were no extra fees included to use these facilities, but the facilities themselves have small associated fees with them.

4. What was it like selecting classes and getting credits transferred?

Arun: While matching courses for credit transfer is not hard, it is definitely a lengthy process and should be done well

in advance. Luckily my friend and I applied together and were able to keep each other company while digging to find all the requisite course outlines, course codes, and transfer options.

Alex: One simple piece of advice for students: do not underestimate this task. It is incredibly difficult to find matching courses in some countries, especially in biology (due to the different labs available depending on the country). As such, a lot of time is required to find matching classes in order to secure a spot in your exchange. Moreover, it is also unwise to use only elective credits on exchange since it only leaves you with core options that are usually harder as time increases (100- vs 400-level courses). Therefore, I urge students to take their time when undergoing this process.

5. What were the courses themselves like? Are they graded differently than here at Concordia?

Arun: I took final-year core courses, so I cannot comment on their entrylevel electives. From my experience, the courses are run differently than here at Concordia. There is a much larger emphasis on reading papers and discussing current research with your peers, as well as conducting your own research projects and presenting the findings. Since textbooks are often out-of-date by the time they are published, this method allows students to become better engaged in the state of science and approach current research problems, as well as actively seek new sources to form educated opinions. Plus, not needing to buy textbooks meant more money in my pocket for traveling!

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Alex: You can expect to have many professors in your classes. At UNSW, the teaching method is quite different from Concordia's. When a specific topic is being discussed from week to week, a new professor that specializes in that field will come teach that segment of the course. As such, the courses are not more difficult, but require some adjusting to the alternating teachers.

Also, biology classes are very "hands-on" and require field experiments throughout the semester.

This results in many articles (similar to ones found in academic journals) being written (much more than Concordia). This, I found to be quite useful, since it really does prepare you for graduate studies.

6. What kind of paperwork/administration did you have to do before leaving (VISAS, etc)?

Arun: While the immigration process for Canadian citizens is not a hard one, it still costs a pretty penny. You need to buy an Australian overseas health insurance plan ($500) in order to get a visa (+ $500). I went with Medibank as they have an on-campus office at UNSW. Luckily the MEESR bursary, a stipend provided by the Quebec government for Quebec residents who wish to study abroad, offsets these costs. This bursary (~$1000/ month) is provided for the duration of the semester abroad in order to help cover living expenses.

Alex: I am a Canadian citizen and was still required a visa in order to study in the country (even though we are part of the Commonwealth).

It was quite costly (approximately $200300) with a required medical travel insurance

(which needs to be purchased in order to be enrolled at the school) costing an additional $500 . However, being a Canadian made this process quick, as I was granted my visa 4 hours after completing the form. The MEESR bursary is a godsend and is granted to all Quebec residents going on exchange; it gives you $1000 a month, so take advantage of it!

7. How much do things costs there? How much would you suggest for a to student budget?

Arun: As with most things, your required budget will vary based on your interests. The cost of living in Australia is much higher than it is in Canada, so budget at least 1.5 times what you think you will need. A fair number of students also chose to work while they attended school, as the minimum wage is ~$20/hour, though I didn’t have the time to do so. A night out in Australia costs a lot more than it would here. I’ve heard stories of people blowing all their money within the first month and having to leave the country, as they could no longer afford to stay! I stayed in an on-campus residence that provided two meals a day which came out to be a lot cheaper than it did for many of my friends who stayed off campus. Traveling within Sydney by bus, train, or ferry can also be expensive as exchange students are not eligible for the student discount fares. This is important as the university itself is not located near the center of the city, so a return trip can cost upwards of $12.

Luckily, the bus and train network is extensive, so those wanting to get to a beach or national park can hop on the train and exit directly onto a hiking trail! For traveling within the country, airfares are a much more affordable method of transport than flying within Canada. Return trips from Sydney to Melbourne can be as low as $24 if you time it properly. Many of Australia’s major cities and attractions are located quite far from each other so flying is often the preferred method of transport for people living far from work.

Alex: Budgeting is quite the challenge.

When one goes on exchange, one tends to want to do as much as possible during such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As such, expenses add up relatively quickly . Housing is ridiculously expensive in Sydney (the highest in Australia), with the average price being $800 a month. This is for a shared room most of the time, even in a house of 7-10 people. My accom-

modation was considered cheap: $700 a month living in a shared room, with a total of 10 people in the house.

Groceries are also incredibly expensive with monthly budgets around $250. Local transportation depends on how often you travel. Unlike OPUS which is a monthly $50, the OPAL card works by adding money (credit) and the balance lasts forever. The costs depend on the distance travelled between stops, which average around $2.5 a trip. This adds up to around $50 a month if the user travels a lot.

The expenses for going out is around the same as Montreal: about $200 a month. Travelling to Australia is tiring and expensive, but travelling within is much cheaper (make sure to check out Tasmania!).

8. So apart from the pricing, did you enjoy where you stayed in Australia?

Arun: I lived on-campus in a residence called UNSW Hall, and loved my time there. The room was an individual room with a shared bathroom,

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kitchenette, and laundry facility in the hallway. I never had a problem with noise, though my room was far from the common areas. Two meals were provided per day (breakfast and dinner), making it even easier to hop out of bed and head to early morning classes.

Alex: At first, I was hoping to live on campus as it makes life a lot easier when you arrive.

Spaces were full but looking back, I could not have been happier. Although having to look for your own apartment may seem like a daunting task, there are many hostels all around Sydney and near the school that make finding an apartment less stressful.

Also, living off-campus lets you meet and socialize with many different people in a home environment. My flatmates were the greatest friends I made. It truly gets you out of your comfort zone, especially if you have never lived away from family. Also, living offcampus gets you out of the environment of being in school all the time.

You get to travel the city much more just through the simple commute in and out of school. Be fearless with your accommodation; I wish I could have lived with even more people!

9. How difficult was it to find a place to live and did you get any help from the school?

Arun: The on-campus housing is run through an external company and they make it easy for you to apply. Be forewarned, the sooner you register, the better as rooms fill up very quickly.

Alex: The host does not help you by default, but can if you go and seek assistance. However, they do offer many oncampus housing options.

With that being said, it was very easy to find offcampus housing in Sydney. The turnover rate is one of the highest in the world. As such, I considered off-campus accommodation as a more preferable choice.

10. Do you have any suggestions for where new students should look for housing?

Arun: There are a wide variety of on-campus residences that vary based on services offered and pricing. This information can be found on the UNSW Residential Communities homepage.

Alex: Flatmates.com.au is by far the greatest site to use. Gumtree.com.au is also good, but is more of a "Craigslist" style website. “Flatmates” allows you to search by suburb and distances to schools and also allows you to filter out single rooms, number of flatmates, costs of living, etc.

If a student wants to live close to school, the boroughs of Randwick or Kingsford are great options. They are a 20minute bus ride to downtown Sydney, but are also 10 minutes away from Coogee beach. If a student wants to live close to a beach for surfing and doesn't mind a commute, Bondi Junction is the best. It is 5 minutes from Bondi Beach (the most famous beach in Australia) and also is 20 minutes

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from the downtown Sydney area by bus.

11. With the housing out of the way, what kind of events did the school put on during the first week?

Arun: The university provides multiple orientation activities specifically for incoming exchange/international students, and also welcomes new students to the university during a period called “O-Week.”

This is a great way to meet a lot of fellow exchange students, find roommates, and learn about the different facilities at the school. For example, Alex and I bonded over a giant Connect Four! Additionally, campus tours take place during this week while stalls and events are set up by the different clubs and associations to get new students involved in extra-curricular activities. The residence I stayed in also hosted many activities and city trips to allow students to network within the dormitory.

Alex: Orientation week (O-Week) was a heartwarming and welcoming

experience. The first week was hectic and downright frightening. It was the first time I had travelled alone to a country far away. As such, OWeek definitely made me feel at home. It provided many activities for students during the first week and helped me meet so many other people who were in the same boat as I was. There were hundreds of clubs to join, so the options were endless.

12. Are there any nonacademic formalities to be taken care of upon arrival?

Arun: Depending on when you arrive and what your plans are, there are a few things that make the move smoother. My friend and I arrived 1.5 months early to travel and began booking our flights and accommodation for that period. On arrival, buying and charging an OPAL card (similar to the OPUS system in Montreal) is required if you want to take the train to the city from the airport. Again, unfortunately exchange students are not eligible for a student fare.

Alex: You must get your travel insurance card (which is located on -campus). Also, if you arrive up to two weeks before the semester starts, you can book a van ride with the school.

They will pick you up from the airport and drive you to your accommodation, on- or offcampus!

ing if you so wish. In terms of activating a cellphone, the first step was to have your phone carrier-unlocked. I then chose to go with Lycamobile’s pay-as-you-go option as I don’t use my phone that often and their top-up cards were available at every corner and grocery store. An-

things to note. There are three service providers: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Stay far away from Vodafone since it has terrible coverage away from cities. All you need to do is go into any convenience store and pick up a sim card, or simply buy a phone at the retail stores. JB HI-FI (similar

nus, it is the location of the University of Sydney rock climbing gym! If you want a taste of nature that is within walkingdistance of the university, the Centennial Parklands are a great place to relax. It is also the home of a sizeable flying-fox colony and a great variety of local bird species.

other advantage of Lycamobile is that it is 1¢ a minute when calling back to Canada, meaning I had a greater chance of running out of battery than I did running out of credit.

to Best Buy) offers great deals on these products.

Alex: Start planning very early on. The prices will skyrocket if you wait long, and are incredibly cheap when you plan ahead of time. There are many places to see in Australia and since it is so big, here is a list:

13. What are the schoolrelated formalities to be taken care of upon arrival?

Arun: Exchange students must check-in with the Global Exchange Office on campus upon arrival, and if you are staying in the residences, then you must also check -in with them in order to get your keys and welcome package. The latter is only available closer to your check-in date, so I only got mine at the end of the first-half of my travels.

Alex: You must get a student ID, register for classes, as well as contact the Student Services office to add your contact information. Also, you must register at the International Office.

14. How did you guys handle the money and phone situation?

Arun: While there are ATMs for all the major Australian financial institutions throughout the school, I went with Commonwealth Bank of Australia as there is an actual branch on campus. All that is required to set up an account is a passport, and you get a no-fee student account that can be easily closed when leav-

Alex: I did not set up a bank account during my travels. Most people did, but it proved to be costly when you account for money transfers from one account to the other.

Instead, I used the ATMs around the city (charging $2 per transaction) and made sure to pull out a minimum of $400 to keep the transaction rates low. As for cell phone coverage, there are many important

15. Now, the fun stuff. Do you have any travel tips for people wanting to make the most of their time in the land Down Under?

Arun: After over 3 months of traveling throughout the country, as well as the 4 months spent within Sydney, I could go on for days about that aspect of the trip. For now, if I had to recommend one neighbourhood for students within Sydney, I would point them towards the Newtown district for its wide array of restaurants and pubs. As a bo-

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1.

Tasmania. Off the coast of mainland Australia, Tasmania is an incredible place to explore the wild side of Australia. Camping is a must; you get to see penguins, Tasmanian devils, as well as snow if you go the mountains (this was my favourite)!

2.

Byron Bay (close to

Brisbane). A very "hipster" environment that includes bikes in all hostels around the area. It is the most eastern point of Australia and includes loads of biking/hiking opportunities and great surfing.

3.

Great Barrier Reef.

Everyone knows this one. One big tip is to look online for many ship providers that will bring you to the reef. Some overcharge so make sure to compare prices.

on you that are well beyond driving on the left and confusingly-named political parties. Here is a partial list:



Shortening of sentences (“Maccas brekkie in the morno and the arvo? Defo.”)



A4 is standard? I guess I won’t be needing all this 8.5”x11”



At least you holepunch things the same. No?!

 Me: Which aisle has the sprinkles?

As for places to go out in  Employee: What are Sydney, try any club in sprinkles? the downtown area.

They are all very fun but  Me: You know, those different from one anothrainbow sugar cryser, leaving you excited for tals that go on the next. doughnuts?

16. Did you encounter the dreaded cultureshock? Do you have advice on what students should expect?

Arun: While Australia still fits within the traditional “Western” society concept, there are a lot of differences that creep up

 GSE: Oh, “Hundreds and Thousands”  Me: … 

“Bubblers” are water fountains. There is no bubbly or bubbles.



Chicken salt. Enough said.

Alex: I was shocked at how un-shocked I was!

Canadians and Australians are remarkably similar people, having a laidback nature in both the urban and downtown environments. Be aware of the lingo of the country and you will be set! If you want to survive, make sure you refer to McDonald’s as Macca’s.

Also, “thongs” mean flipflops. Genius, but absolutely shocking until you realize what people are talking about.

17. How has your exchange affected you in your academic and personal life?

Arun: In addition to learning about a new culture and a very different natural environment, meeting and working with students and faculty both within the confines of the school and outside campus has helped me hone in on my career path and the opportunities present in the field of biology. Working with such inspirational indi-

viduals has taught me new methods of approaching scientific problems that I know will stay with me for the rest of my life. Furthermore, apart from adding new places to visit to my bucket list, engaging with fellow exchange students from across the world has increased my global perspective on the multitude of fascinating cultures that exists in the highly connected world we live in.

Alex: Academically, exchange has opened my eyes to a multitude of options post-graduation.

There are so many doors that open when you are at such a prestigious school, that many graduate opportunities will await you in Australia.

Also, meeting so many different people inspires you to see past your own major and gives insight into many other academic fields . In certain cases, you spend time with some of these people so often and by default, their studies, that you become immersed in academia unlike any other situation. Exchange really helped me want to learn.

As for my personal life, exchange made me a stronger, more independent and carefree man.

When you travel alone for the first time to a land that is incredibly far away from home, with absolutely no contacts, the only word that comes to mind is fear. However, when you overcome this fear, you realize that many of the fears you have in life are actually illusions. You learn that you can do so much if you try to overcome your

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own limits and it is surprising how you can change and accomplish as much as you do in only 5 months.

18. This all sounds amazing. Is there anything else you guys would like to add?

norm – lesson learned after tipping our taxi driver and having him hand the money back to us thinking we were drunk.



Arun:







Temporary rivers – the fact that such enormous bodies of water appear and disappear seemingly overnight will never cease to amaze me.

Research “Tall Poppy Syndrome” before going. It’s a hard one to wrap your head around though the Global Exchange Office does try.

Tipping is NOT the



If you join the UNSW Outdoors club, ask about the 4 exchange-students who hiked to Boree Log. That’s a 54 km adventure you’ll need popcorn for.

Now the answer you’ve all been waiting for: no, the toilets do not flush in the opposite direction. The power of the jet of water overcomes the Coriolis Effect. Locks are backwards though.

Become a "Yes Man" and take the time to do absolutely all that you can do.

My mind-set while on exchange was to challenge myself by doing things that made me anxious. Everything that I was too afraid to do in Montreal, I forced myself to partake in in Australia.

Now that I am back, I am a different person and for the better. Trust me, it is by far the greatest growing experience and gift you can give yourself. If I could get every student to go on exchange I would! Hopefully, I have inspired you.

Alex: The only piece of advice I have for students is to do everything.

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Links:



Concordia Student Exchange Program (CSEP): https:// www.concordia.ca/ artsci/students/ study-abroad.html



MEESR Bursary: https:// www.concordia.ca/ students/ exchanges/funding/ mesrst-bursary.html



Cost of Living: http:// www.numbeo.com/ cost-of-living/



UNSW Residences: http:// www.rc.unsw.edu.a u/



Flatmates: https:// flatmates.com.au/

CONCORDIA GALÁPAGOS PROJECT 2016 POWERED BY THE BIOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION

GALAPAGOS

EXTRACT JOURNAL

Introduction THE CONCORDIA GALAPAGOS PROJECT IS A ONE-MONTH LONG SERVICE TRIP ORGANIZED BY THE BIOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION TO THE SOUTH AMERICAN ARCHIPELAGO LOCATED SOME 960KM WEST OFF THE COAST OF ECUADOR. A GREAT HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE FOR ANY BIOLOGY STUDENT

STORY TITLE

INTERESTED IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND ITS DERIVATIVES

The experience of a lifetime

MAY 10, 2015 ‘’My first impression was that it was completely the opposite of Quito; a totally flat landscape. We set up at our hotel after being welcomed by

Never will you understand the gravity of what you can accomplish. It is nothing less than an achievement to set foot on the most biodiverse archipelago in the world. Can you imagine these Islands, with such ecological richness, were the very places that inspired Charles Darwin and gave rise to the theory of evolution.

Imagine, that this could be your next destination. That you can experience this as part of an accredited school project. That you have the opportunity to have the experience of a lifetime while completing a 400-level course that will also better your knowledge and passion for Conservation Biology.

I truly believe this project, from the day of selection, to the fundraising, to discovering new fields of interest and learning how we affect the ecosystem dynamics, constitutes one of the best academic experiences I’ve gone through thus far. It’s a trip worth several thousand dollars, but an experience that is absolutely priceless!

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our tour guide (Manolo from Sharksky). After setting up, we slowly walked towards the beach while admiring the exotic creatures living in the actual city such as sea lions, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, several crabs on the beach and many others.’’

-Charles Plaisir CGP Coordinator

Concordia Galapagos Project NOW AN ACCREDITED COURSE—BIOL498 A 4-week field experience that takes place in the Galapagos Islands

including volcano hiking, snorkeling, surfing and more Deadline to apply: November 15, 2016

For more information, visit www.bsaconcordia.com Page 14

About Medspecs MedSpecs Concordia was first founded by the students at McGill University, and with the help of our Co -Presidents, it expanded to Concordia University in the Fall of 2014. We are a club dedicated to providing Concordia students with the tools and information needed to facilitate their experience applying to medical schools. We provide assistance to all undergraduate students interested in learning about what it takes to be admitted into a medical school. To assure that we provide students with the latest and most updated information regarding the MCATs, application procedures, and resume builders, MedSpecs Concordia has partnerships with The Princeton Review and MedApps. Throughout the year, we organize many events and information sessions where students can have their questions answered by other medical students and/or professionals. Our job is basically to help anyone become a more successful applicant.

Medspecs recruits students on an annual basis. Anyone is welcome to apply. The roles assigned to the applicants depend on the positions available at the end of each academic year.

Upcoming Events Fundraiser for Syrian Refugees to help them get proper medical care.

MCAT seminar presented by our sponsors The Princeton Review and MedApps.

Connect with Medspecs Email : medspecsconcordia@gmail.com Medspecs CU

@medspecsCU

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@medspecs

ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS??

The Biology Student Association

presents: BIOL490 INFORMATION SESSION With Dr. Ferguson, Head Advisor & Senior Lecturer

   

Learn what to expect for your thesis defense Improve your thesis presentation Tips and Tricks Do’s and Don’ts

Date: February 5, 2016 Time: 10:00-11:00AM Location: GE-110

Space is limited. Please reserve at academic@bsaconcordia.com Page 16

BSA LAB TOURS

Interested in volunteering or doing a BIOL490 Project?

Learn what research is being done in BIOLOGY at Concordia

February 17, 2016 Ecology Labs 1:00-2:30PM Cell & Molecular Labs 2:30-4:00PM Register at academic@bsaconcordia.com Page 17

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BIOLOGY SEMINARS SERIES Winter 2016

Biology Department

Weekly Research Seminars Seminars include local and international speakers covering topics in ecology, evolution, cell and molecular biology, genomics and synthetic biology. Graduate students and postdocs are also given an opportunity to present their work as part of their training.

January 29 Research in Progress Weladji and Fraser labs.

February 5-Ecology Dr. Clint Kelly

When: Fridays Afternoons at 1:15 pm

February 12-Cell &

Where: SP– S110 on the Loyola Campus

Molecular Dr. Andrew Ellington

All seminars are open to the public.

February 19-Genomics

Light refreshments are served.

Dr. Joelle Pelletier

Series Coordinators

2012 Genomics Symposium

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

Dr. J.-P. Lessard



Dr. JinSuk Lee



Dr. David Walsh



Dr. Vincent Martin

Biology Student Association Biannual

SWEATER SALE January 18- in the SP Atrium January 25 to February 5 in the BSA office SP 375.21 Sweaters will be sold during BSA office hours!

CASH ONLY!

For more information on styles, prices, and to download the order form please visit the BSA website: www.bsaconcordia.com Page 20

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Keep an Eye Out For Upcoming BSA Events BSA Hoodie Sales o

January 18 – February 5 in the BSA office (SP 375.21)

BSA Academic Workshops o

BIOL490 INFO session 

February 5, 10-11AM GE-110

Sexpress Yourself Sexual Health Fair o

February 10-11, 11AM-5PM in the SP Atrium

BSA/BGSA Mentor and Mentee Meet and Greet o

February 18, 6-9PM at the HIVE

CGP Fundraiser: Shinny Hockey Meltdown 2016 o

February 19, 12PM, Perform Center skating rink

BSA Monthly Newsletter, The Telomere Times o

February 22, www.bsaconcordia.com

Biology lab tours o

February 17 2-4PM 

Ecology Labs 1:00-2:30PM



Cell & Molecular Labs 2:30-4:00PM

Biology Alumni Networking o

March 16, 6-9PM RF-110

Wine and Cheese Networking Event o

March 17, 6-9PM

BSA Monthly Newsletter, The Telomere Times o

March 21, www.bsaconcordia.com

Winter Pubcrawl o

March 24, 6PM

Behind-the-Scenes Biodome Field Trip o

March 29, 1-5PM

For more information, check our website www.bsaconcordia.ca

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The Biology Student Association Executives

Alexandra Baird President

Susannah Selber-Hnatiw

Jamie Allan

VP Finance

VP Academic Page 27

Yara Maalouf

Katherine Levasseur

VP Social

VP Communications

Arun Dayanandan

Charles Plaisir

VP Internal

VP External

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The Newsletter Team

Katherine Levasseur

Zarin Arshy

Editor-in-Chief & Graphic Designer

Executive Editor

Danielle Mac Rae

Arun Dayanandan

Interview Writer

Guest Writer

Alex Assimakopoulos Guest Writer

Charles Plaisir

Tiffany Qiu

Guest Writer

Graphic Designer Page 29

ment;

Did you forget your LAB COAT or your GOGGLES at home?



Looks great on your CV



Have fun and meet new people!

Biology students are eligible to



Get a reference letter from the BSA

Volunteer with us!

Come and volunteer with the BSA! 

Become involved in your depart-

free rental of CLEAN lab coat and goggles if you catch us in

Just provide name

Office Hours Monday: 11:30AM-1:00PM 4:00-6:00PM Tuesday: 1:00-4:00PM Wednesday:

Have some COFFEE with us!

10:00AM-1:00PM

Drop by during our office hours

Thursday:

for a FREE BSA reusable mug

11:45AM-1:00PM Friday:

Feel free to stay and chat!

10:00AM-1:00PM

Contact Info Room

communications @bsaconcordia.com

www.bsaconcordia.com

@concordiabsa

SP-375.21 Phone (+1) 514-848-2424

Concordia Biology Student Association Page 30

Biology Student Association

concordiabsa