Biology Department

Senior BIOMASS
Class of 1996-present

Searching for a meaningful way to quantitatively assess the size of each year's graduating class of Biology, BMB & ES-Bio majors, the Department began in 1996 to conduct an annual tally of the Senior Class's BIOMASS. This event takes place each spring immediately before the annual Biology Department Picnic.

The seniors are transported en masse to a public scale.  For the first 20 years, BIOMASS was determined on the Fairbanks Scale at the East Side Van & Storage Company (4836 SE Powell - a big THANKS! to Cliff and the folks at Eastside Van & Storage for their good humor and professional help with our data collection).  In 2017, the BIOMASS determination was moved to Recology near SE Foster and 101st.

Results from the first four years (Figure 1 below) show a remarkable increase, which some attribute to El Nino. The lack of data collection for year 2001 is likely a result of the Biology Buiilding renovation (was anyone there? who can remember?) .  In 2015, the CUMULATIVE BIOMASS surpassed the 20-metric-ton mark (Figure 2 below) .

FIGURE 1. BIOMASS for Biology, BMB, Neuroscience & ES-Bio majors for 1996-present.

BIOMASS for Biology image

FIGURE 2. CUMULATIVE BIOMASS for Biology, BMB, Neuroscience & ES-Bio majors for 1996-present.

CUMULATIVE BIOMASS figure

Class of '18

class of 18 image

Class of 2018, on the new Recology scales. (click on image for a larger picture; additional picture at this link -  picture2).

scale image

The official 2018 BIOMASS digital display.

Class of '17

class of 17 image

Class of 2017, on the new Recology scales. (click on image for a larger picture; additional picture at this link -  picture2).

scale image

The official 2017 BIOMASS digital display.

Class of '16

class of 16 image

Class of 2016, on the scales, with Operations Manager Cliff Youngstrom (Biomass Weigh Master). (click on image for a larger picture; additional pictures at these links -  picture2, picture3, picture4).

official 2016 BIOMASS weigh-slip image

The official 2016 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

Class of '15

class of 2015 image

Class of 2015, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture, or picture2, picture3, picture4)

2015 BIOMASS weigh-slip image

The official 2015 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

Class of '14

Class of 2014, on the scales image

Class of 2014, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture, or picture2)

2014 BIOMASS weigh-slip image

The official 2014 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

Class of '13

Class of 2013 on the scales image

Class of 2013, (nearly) on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

2013 BIOMASS weigh-slip image

The official 2013 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

A more sedate image from 2013: 2013

Class of '11

Class of 2011 on the scales image

Class of 2011, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

image of 2011 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2011 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

Class of '10

image of class of 2010

Class of 2010, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

image of 2010 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2010 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

More images from 2010: two; three; four; five

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Class of '09

image of class of 2009

Class of 2009, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

image of 2009 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2009 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

More images from 2009: two; three; four; five; six

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Class of '08

image of class of 2008

Class of 2008, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

image of 2008 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2008 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

More images from 2008: two; three; four; five; six; seven; eight; nine.

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Class of '07

image of class of 2007

Class of 2007, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

image of 2007 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2007 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '06

class of 2006 image

Class of 2006, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

image of 2006 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2006 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '05

image of class of 2005

Class of 2005, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)

image of 2005 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2005 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '04

image of class of 2004

Class of 2004, on the scales. Note first ever pyramid! (click on image for a larger picture,or here for another shot)

image of 2004 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2004 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '03

image of class of 2003

Class of 2003, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture,or here for another shot)

image of class of 2003 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2003 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '02

image of class of 2002

Class of 2002, on the scales. (click on image for a larger, composite picture)

image of class of 2002 BIOMASS weigh-slip

The official 2002 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '00

Class of 00 image

Class of 2000, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture, or here for another shot)
Photos courtesy Carey Huff.

2002 BIOMASS scale image

The official 2002 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '99

class of 99 image

Class of 1999, on the scales.

1999 BIOMASS scale image

The official 1999 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '98

class of 1998 image

Class of 1998, on the scales.

1998 BIOMASS scale image

The official 1998 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '97

class of 1997 image

Class of 1997, on the scales

1997 BIOMASS scale image

The official 1997 BIOMASS weigh-slip.

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Class of '96

1996 BIOMASS scale image
The official weigh-slip is the only
evidence of the 1996 BIOMASS

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The Fairbanks Scale

fairbanks scale image
Keith receives the official weigh-slip at
the 1998 BIOMASS determination

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