May 10, 2013 -- On a chilly spring afternoon, EEB faculty, students, staff, families, friends and even dogs, broke bread together at Gallup Park for the annual Spring-a-Ling picnic.

Grillers took turns cooking delicious beef and veggie burgers and hot dogs and most of the rest was pot luck style. Partygoers played bean bag toss, hacky sack, and croquet. Everyone enjoyed the collegiality. Toddlers toddled. Babies giggled and then fussed when they were ready to call it a night. Dogs socialized. The beautiful setting with the greening and blooming landscape provided a perfect backdrop for the festivities. Ducks, swans, and geese swam in the surrounding waters.

EEB Chair and Professor Deborah Goldberg made the annual announcement of awards and honors over the past academic year and revealed the winner of Outstanding Student Paper Award. Qixin He’s paper “Integrative testing of how environments from the past to the present shape genetic structure across landscapes” was the winner. Watch for more information coming soon to EEB web news. 

Special thanks to the social committee for organizing the event: Cindy Carl, Dr. Laura Eidietis, Michael Ehnis, Mark Brahce, and graduate student Andrea Thomaz. An additional shout out to Damon Place, Sonja Botes, Yin-Long Qiu, and everyone who helped set up and clean up.

Photo credit: Mark O'Brien.