Members of Bio’75 are celebrating their 40th Homecoming reunion by fundraising to build a little home at the ý Biology Station (QUBS).
The group is trying to raise a $5,000 class gift to build a “bunkie” – one of the small, one-person sleeping cabins students stay in while doing research at the 3,200-hectare facility, located about 50 kilometres north of Kingston.
This is the first time Bio’75 reunion coordinators have collected funds for a class gift. They wanted a fundraising project that was both manageable in size and meaningful to the biology department and alumni. A bunkie was a great choice because most Bio’75 alumni went to QUBS, either for a research project or a field trip.
“Homecoming is not only about us coming back to Kingston and visiting our friends, it ý ’s about giving back to Queen ý ’s as well,” says Bio’75 reunion coordinator Deborah Turnbull. “People made life-long friends at Queen ý ’s. Many set up their careers based on what they took at Queen ý ’s. Many found their spouses at Queen ý ’s. So it ý ’s just been a part of who we are.”
The class giving project is especially meaningful to Bio’75 coordinator Laurene Ratcliffe. Forty years ago she was a biology student. Today she is a Queen ý ’s biology professor.
She has taught at other universities and feels fortunate Queen ý ’s has such a great research facility.
“I’m a big, big fan of the biology station. The people running it have done a fantastic job. Some colleagues at other universities struggle to find a research area. QUBS provides complete infrastructure – the housing and food – so that means I get to focus on my research,” Laurene says.
The bunkies are rustic and small – basically big enough for a bed and desk – but both Laurene and Deborah have fond memories of their time at QUBS. The bunkies are located together in a horseshoe shape, which helps create a fun atmosphere for the researchers.
Anyone who would like to contribute to the Bio’75 bunkie fund can make a donation online.
