End of the year Posada 2011 Every year we celebrate the end of the year “Posada” in the last seminar of the year. This year we made it earlier, following a birthday party celebrated few days earlier because some members were expected to be out of the country when the year ended. We gathered 17 members for an early evening Posada in the Palapa of CIBNOR. Each member brought a culinary delight. All were surprisingly edible and delicious. Some of the faces in these photos: (not all were there) Permanent members: Dr. Luz Gonzalez de-Bashan, Marine Biologist Patricia Vazquez, Dr. Yoav Bashan, Dr. Macario Bacilio, M.Sc. Juan-Pablo Hernández, and M.Sc. Manuel Moreno. Post doctoral scientist: Dr. Blanca Romero. Sabbatical year scientist: Dr. Alberto Mendoza. Students: D.Sc. Student: Luis Leyva, Fancisco Choix and Oskar Palacios. M.Sc. Student: Ivonne Cruz, Beatrice Meza, Cinthya Chavez, Emmanuel Vidaña, Edgar Amavizca and Cristina Galaviz. English Editor: Mr. Ira Fogel
click on play to see the video

The Environmental Microbiology Group participated in an internal championship volleyball tournament, organized by The Northwestern Center for Biological Research (CIBNOR) to celebrate its 36th anniversary in October 2011. Our dream team was named "Azospirillum de Baja Sur". We finished fifth over eight other teams. (From right, front line): Edith Rivera, Beatris Meza, Luis Leyva, Emmanuel Vidaña, Cristina Galaviz, Norma Laguna, Ivonne Cruz and Ujkin (Our pet). (From right, back line): Alfonso Medel, Oskar Palacios, Blanca Romero, Claudia Contreras, Alberto Mendoza (couch), Edgar Amavizca, Juan Hernandez, Manuel Moreno and Diego Briceño.

End of the year Posada 2010

Since 1997 when the group was first created, we celebrate the end of the year “Posada” in the last seminar of the year. The year 2010 was of no exception. We gathered 12 members (out of the 15 members we had in 2010 and few were off campus) and there were few visitors for a midday Posada in the Palapa of CIBNOR. Each member brought a culinary delight, none brought the langusta or paella dishes suggested by the organizers. As is common, there was more than sufficient food to satisfy all tastes.

Some of the faces in these photos: (not all were there)

Permanent members:

Dr. Luz Gonzalez de-Bashan, Marine Biologist Patricia Vazquez, Dr. Yoav Bashan, Dr. Macario Bacilio, M.Sc. Juan-Pablo Hernández, and M.Sc. Manuel Moreno.

Post doctoral scientist:

Dr. Blanca Romero.

Students:

Luis Leyva- D.Sc. Student; Alejandra Vovides- D.Sc. Student; Adan Trejo- M.Sc. student (graduated in 2010); Sergio Hernandez - M.Sc. student, Francisco Choix- Doctoral student, Eng. Noga Bashan- Diploma, Ivonne Cruz- M.Sc student; Beatrice Meza- M.Sc student; Raina Romero- Social service student; Cynthia Chavez- M.Sc student; Alfredo Orrala- Residency student.

click on play to see the video

It took two hours to complete our Posada. Almost nothing was left for take-away. And the year is officially closed (from right, front line): Ivonne Cruz, Luis Leyva, Blanca Romero, Manuel Moreno, Sergio Covarrubias (from right, back line): Cinthya Chavez, Beatriz Meza, macario Bacilio, Yoav Bashan, Luz de Bashan, Francisco Choix, Juan Hernandez

Birthday Celebrations Because we have more members than months, every month we celebrate the birthday of somebody (if the date is not kept a secret) with a cake in the laboratory. On December 7, 2010 both Ivonne Cruz and Luz de-Bashan had a birthday. To avoid sugar toxicity from too many cakes, one cake was substituted with salty crackers and dips. Nobody complained.
Part of the group waiting for a cake (from letf to right: Blanca Romero, Luis Leyva and Yoav Bashan.)	Waiting for the cake (from Left to right: Francisco Choix, Manuel Moreno, Blanca Romero, Luis Leyva and Yoav Bashan)	Discussing how many pieces the cake will yield. (from left to right: Manuel Moreno, Yoav Bashan, Luz Gonzalez and Ivonne Cruz.)
Who is this girl?... looks like Ivonne..!!	Ivonne (left) and JP (right) preparing to cut the cake	Juan-Pablo and his hybrid, it is important to mention that Juan-Pablo is on the left.
	Luz (left) and Ivonne (right) are enjoying their birthday lab party
From left, back line: Francisco Choix, Macario Bacilio, Luis Leyva, Manuel Moreno and Yoav Bashan from left, front line: Patricia Vazquez, Ivonne Cruz, JP, Luz de Bashan and Blanca Romero

Celebration of Valentine day 2010 Improvements in the coherence of the Environmental Microbiology Group following the incorporation of new students yielded the first ever celebration of Valentine day- Day of Love - on February 14, 2010. It was traditionally based on a mountain quantity of food (not all unhealthy) and celebrated during the weekly seminar of the group occurring exactly of that very day.
Version 1: Adan is approving the quality of the sausage, or, Version 2: He is approving that the member of the group who prepared it should be allowed to live and not be executed on the spot.	Alejandra is extremely satisfied with a piece of carrot.	Luis as always is happy as long as there is something to chew.
“To eat or not to eat” assortment of edible roots before the “heavier food”. This is the dilemma facing Blanca.	Apparently, a lot of vegetables are a real treat for Luz.	How can one share two large cakes for only 12 people? Yvonne and Blanca are loading large slabs of cakes into the mini plates sufficient for only one tiny piece of cake. Sergio is not participating. He is just there.
Everybody is waiting for their large share in the cakes. Nobody seems to care about the large amount of calories one has to upload into their energy producing systems in few minutes. Yoav converted it directly to fat and avoided the energy issue (From Left; Yoav, Alejandra, Betty, Pati, Yvonne and Blanca).	Manuel receiving his 5000+ calories’ share after eating all the other food.	Betty is still waiting for her mountain of cakes while Pati took only a micro-piece.
	Even though Sergio’s plate is full and over loaded, he still has a look for more.

End of the year Posada 2009 Since 1997 when the group was first created, we celebrate the “Posada” in the last seminar of the year after receiving the evaluation of how good or bad (mostly good) we did in the year. 2009 was of no exception. We gathered 10 members (out of the 20 members we had in 2009 and did not show up for the last working days of the year or were off campus) and there were few visitors for a midday Posada in the Palapa of CIBNOR. Each member brought a culinary achievement and the few who cannot cook brought themselves plus the necessary accessories for the meal. As is common in Mexico, there is always a lot to eat and no matter how much one eats, there is always something left to take home. Tradition. The only difference from a normal Mexican fiesta is that alcohol is not permitted on campus. Some of the faces in these photos: Permanent members: Dr. Luz Gonzalez de-Bashan, Marine Biologist Patricia Vazquez, Dr. Yoav Bashan, Dr. Macario Bacilio, M.Sc. Juan-Pablo Hernández, M.Sc. Manuel Moreno, Marine Biologist Bernardo Salazar. Post doctoral scientist: Dr. Froylan Espinoza. Students: Dr. Blanca Romero - Graduated in 2009. M.Sc. Octavio Perez- Graduated in 2009; Alejandra Vovides. – D.Sc. Student; Luis Leyva. D.Sc. Student, Adan Trejo. M.Sc. student, Sergio Hernandez - M.Sc. student, Francisco Choix. Pre-doctoral student, Ulises Ortega and Felipe Ortiz- Professional Practice, Noga Bashan- Diploma. Group administrator: Isaura de la Vega.
To wash or not to wash. Is the hand clean enough to mix the drink?	Blanca has something on her mind.	Luis is explaining to Luz his secrets for his superb ceviche (raw fish plate).
Luis is preparing his always-good ceviche. The only ceviche few of us dare to eat because we know that freshness is guaranteed and no stomach aches, poisoning, or diarrhea is expected.	It is completely unclear what Alejandra is waiting for.	One of the few traditional dishes prepared.
After the ceviche that was served as an appetizer, (from right) Isaura, Juan-Pablo, Amauri (the zoologist that likes to hang out in our group), Sergio, Luis, Luz, and Yoav.	Adan, in an undefined pose.	Ira Fogel, our English editor, who always appreciates good Mexican food, passed by and was immediately invited to join us.
Is Luis thinking about his enzymatic tests or what to eat next? Probably the latter.	Juan-Pablo and Blanca having a great time.	And one second afterwards.
The chiles were a bit strong for Adan. Sergio has not eaten them so far.	This was just one sharp hot jalapeno (Adan)!	It took two hours to complete our Posada. Much was left for take-away. And the year is officially closed (from right, front line): Manuel, Luz, Alejandra, Blanca, Isaura. (from right, back line): Sergio, Yoav, Juan-Pablo, Adan, Luis.