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) .
- Class of '18
- Class of '17
- Class of '16
- Class of '15
- Class of '14
- Class of '13
- Class of '11
- Class of '10
- Class of '09
- Class of '08
- Class of '07
- Class of '02
- Class of '00
- Class of '99
- Class of '98
- Class of '97
- Class of '96
Class of '18
Class of 2018, on the new Recology scales. (click on image for a larger picture; additional picture at this link - picture2).
The official 2018 BIOMASS digital display.
Class of '17
Class of 2017, on the new Recology scales. (click on image for a larger picture; additional picture at this link - picture2).
The official 2017 BIOMASS digital display.
Class of '16
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).
The official 2016 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '15
Class of 2015, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture, or picture2, picture3, picture4)
The official 2015 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '14
Class of 2014, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture, or picture2)
The official 2014 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '13
Class of 2013, (nearly) on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2013 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
A more sedate image from 2013: 2013
Class of '11
Class of 2011, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2011 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '10
Class of 2010, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2010 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
More images from 2010: two; three; four; five
Class of '09
Class of 2009, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2009 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
More images from 2009: two; three; four; five; six
Class of '08
Class of 2008, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2008 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
More images from 2008: two; three; four; five; six; seven; eight; nine.
Class of '07
Class of 2007, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2007 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '06
Class of 2006, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2006 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '05
Class of 2005, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture)
The official 2005 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '04
Class of 2004, on the scales. Note first ever pyramid! (click on image for a larger picture,or here for another shot)
The official 2004 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '03
Class of 2003, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture,or here for another shot)
The official 2003 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '02
Class of 2002, on the scales. (click on image for a larger, composite picture)
The official 2002 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '00
Class of 2000, on the scales. (click on image for a larger picture, or here for another shot)
Photos courtesy Carey Huff.
The official 2002 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '99
Class of 1999, on the scales.
The official 1999 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '98
Class of 1998, on the scales.
The official 1998 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '97
Class of 1997, on the scales
The official 1997 BIOMASS weigh-slip.
Class of '96
The official weigh-slip is the only
evidence of the 1996 BIOMASS
The Fairbanks Scale
Keith receives the official weigh-slip at
the 1998 BIOMASS determination