Members of Bio’75 are celebrating their 40th Homecoming reunion by fundraising to build a little home at the Queen’s University 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’s about giving back to Queen’s as well,” says Bio’75 reunion coordinator Deborah Turnbull. “People made life-long friends at Queen’s. Many set up their careers based on what they took at Queen’s. Many found their spouses at Queen’s. So it’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’s biology professor.
She has taught at other universities and feels fortunate Queen’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.
