Welcome to theCollege of Natural ScienceR. James KirkpatrickDean

CNS is one of 16 discipline-specific colleges at MSUAgriculture & Natural ResourcesArts & LettersBusinessCommunication Arts & SciencesEducationEngineeringHuman MedicineMusicNATURAL SCIENCENursingOsteopathic MedicineSocial ScienceVeterinary MedicineJames Madison CollegeLyman Briggs College Residential College in Arts and Humanities

CNS is one of three core colleges at MSUWe provide the courses in general education (a.k.a. Integrative Studies) Any student can select a major without additional requirements

CNS Majors are in Departments of Physical Sciences- Geological Sciences- Physics & Astronomy- Chemistry

CNS Majors are in Departments of Biological Sciences- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology- Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics- Food Science & Human Nutrition- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics- Physiology- Plant Biology- Zoology

CNS Majors are in Departments of Mathematical Sciences- Mathematics- Statistics & Probability

CNS is Among MSU’s Largest Colleges4,500 undergraduate students1,000 graduate students250 faculty1,200 entering freshman in 2009Most CNS students are studying in a biological sciences major

CNS Leads MSU in ResearchCNS faculty bring in more external research funding than any other college at MSU

Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB)A superconducting linear accelerator that will produce isotopes that normally exist only in the most extreme environments in the universe.FRIB will greatly expand the usefulness of isotopes in a broad range of applications from modeling stars to understanding the workings of nanoscale electronic devices.

Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) Explores scientifically diverse approaches to converting various plant feedstocks – agricultural residues, wood chips, and nonfood grasses – into liquid transportation fuels.

SOAR Telescope Used to detect the presence of elements, carbon and oxygen — considered the building blocks of life – in a number of ancient stars and star systems, data that continue to yield more information on how these elements originated

Behavioral Development Professor Kay Holekamp's laboratory focuses on mammalian behavioral development. Her students are currently investigating how social, ecological and hormonal differences change the way hyenas behave and how successfully they reproduce.

Experimental Evolution Instead of investigating using the comparative method or by studying fossils, Professor Rich Lenski’s approach is to watch evolution as it happens - in the context of experiments that are replicated and performed under controlled conditions using bacteria.

Climate Change Professor Jen Lau researches community ecology and evolutionary biology to explore how plants respond to changes in climate and invasive species. One of her projects looks at how elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations alter the evolution of plant populations. Professor Elena Litchman is studying how climate change will impact aquatic ecosystems, phytoplankton communities in particular. She is determining how various aspects of global change may increase the frequency and severity of Harmful Algal Blooms.

Students and Research Goldwater scholarships are national scholarships awarded to students showing promise to develop significant scientific research careers All three of MSU’s 2009 Goldwater Scholars were CNS students All were involved in undergraduate research

University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF)2009 Grand Prize winner in Science was MaulikDhanda, a Medical Technology majorCNS students received 10 of the 12 first prizes in Natural and Physical SciencesSome of the 2009 posters are displayed in the atrium today

Get Involved in Student Groups Every department offers opportunities for involvement through student groupsAsk your departmental reps for information today

Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Students AssociationWon the 2009 Collegiate Challenge for the Gift of Life-Michigan and recognition from the Michigan Secretary of StateRecruited the most organ donors of all colleges in MichiganThey have won the award 4 out of 5 yearsMaking a difference while getting experience

Create your ownNatural Science learning adventure…

Take advantage of MSU’s size, expertise and vast capabilities. Enhance your studies with research and extra-curricular activities

Take advantage of MSU’s size, expertise and vast capabilities. Enhance your studies with research and extra-curricular activitiesCollege of Natural Sciencehttp://naturalscience.msu.edu