Theme of issue
Writing as a Way of Learning Microbiology

Table of Contents
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To view individual papers within this issue of the newsmagazine, click on a title below:

Writing As A Way of Learning Microbiology
William H. Coleman, University of Hartford and Barbara Emmel, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

POINT / COUNTERPOINT: The Use of Animals in Microbiology Education
POINT: Jeffrey Sich, Washington University COUNTERPOINT: Samuel Fan, Bradley University

Elemental Sulfur Reduction by Facultative Anaerobes as an Educational Tool
Duane P. Moser and Kenneth H. Nealson, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Student Acquisition of the Concept of Virus
Charlotte Mulvihill, Community College of Allegheny County

The 1995 Undergraduate Microbiology Education Conference
Sean Ervin, Saba University School of Medicine

Message from the Planning Committee
Yes, we're back, and yes, we have some good news -- we've been budgeted for three issues per year. The ASM is pleased with our newsletter as an instrument for information and opinion (and a bit of frivolity), and the prospects are positive.

Now here's the down side -- the initial rush of excitement is wearing slightly thin, and we need some help. More specifically, we need you to do some writing for us, for your colleagues, and for Division W.

As you've probably noted, we have a newsletter section entitled Point-Counterpoint. The purpose is to present a topic for debate. To this date, Sue Katz has done a superb job of posing questions and tracking down people to address those questions. We are extremely fortunate to have a person with her spunk and capabilities. As you might expect, however, the job is tricky, and a certain degree of persuasion is required. We would very much like to take some of the burden off Sue and move it out to the membership. And so, we'd like to propose the following: we would be pleased to continue the Point-Counterpoint section, but we need your input. We are going to pose two questions and invite you to address either of them. These questions are: "Should the remaining stocks of smallpox viruses be eliminated?" and "Does one need a Ph.D. to effectively teach an undergraduate microbiology course?" Would you write a 400-word essay on either of these topics and argue for or against it?

And while we have your attention --would you be willing to write a feature article? Or send in something from your students? Or pose a subject and address it in a letter? Or present an educational insight? Or propose a topic on microbiology education for debate? Bartles and James said it and we repeat it here: "Thanks for your support."

Ed Alcamo
State University of New York-Farmingdale

Newsletter Planning Committee
I. Edward Alcamo, Editor, State University of New York
Marianne Crocker, Ozark Technical Community College
Betty Eidemiller, ASM staff
Sean Ervin, Saba University School of Medicine
Sue Katz, Doane College
John Lennox, Penn State Altoona
Dorothy May, Park College
Jeff Sich, Washington University