And so it begins…

Obama’s second term actually began yesterday with his first second swearing in, but today is inauguration day here in Washington. We’ll see about how his second term plays out, but what I’m really excited about is the beginning of the Spring semester here at Mason, which begins tomorrow.

There are about 50 undergraduate neuroscience majors registered for my cellular neuroscience class–we’ll meet in person for the first time tomorrow, although the class blog and Facebook page are already active.

And in the meantime, the exciting research program of the Krasnow Institute goes forward. The Institute is now in its twenty-third year! Sometimes I’m shocked to think of how far its progressed over these two plus decades. We are now in the process of beginning to prepare grants for a second MRI, and planning for the process which will bring all of our research efforts into the facility–under one roof.

Turning the corner towards summer….

There are about four weeks left in the Spring semester here at George Mason. For my undergraduate cellular neuroscience class, they are finishing up the core material in molecular signal transduction and synaptic plasticity.

In the meantime, the campus is as verdant as ever. Commencement will be here before we know it and then the beginning of a very busy summer with our short course, a new university presidency, my annual visit to the MBL in Woods Hole and Renaissance Weekend in Aspen.

This year has seen the Institute move ahead on many fronts. Our new academic agreement with Berlin’s Humboldt University is in place, we are on the threshold of graduating quite a few doctoral students (I’m heading to a thesis defense later today), and our science is as exciting as its ever been.

Meanwhile, it’s with pleasure that we welcome to campus my former Amherst classmate, Zeke Emanuel today. I wish were able to make it to his talk and hope that our local readers will.

First day of classes Spring Semester…

It may be foggy and cold here in Washington, but it’s also a day full of anticipation as we begin the Spring (yes that’s the operative word, Spring!) semester here at Mason.

Tomorrow is my first day of teaching in a bit. I’ll be teaching 50 undergraduates in a cellular neuroscience core course. I’m very much looking forward to trying out some new pedagogical ideas….

In the meantime, the first snowdrop blooms are out in our neighborhood. If the winter continues to be as mild as it’s been so far, we should have crocuses within a couple of weeks.

This semester will also be one of transition here at Mason as we salute Alan Merten for a job well-done and welcome Angel Cabrera as our new President on July 1. Change is part of life, no less within the academy. It will be interesting to watch this marvelous place continue to evolve and grow.