While still relatively unknown to many undergraduates, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' (GSAS) Harvard Biotechnology Club has been growing at an exponential rate over its first year in operation.

In that year, the club has gained 1,100 members from around the world, and can boast participants from India, Europe, Israel, Australia and the Philippines. Though most members are graduate students living in the Boston area, the group also has members from the biotechnology industry and from other academic communities.

Kim Seth and Jason LaBonte, both GSAS students and the current managing directors of the club, say that the organization's major goal is "bridging the gap" by opening a dialogue between the academic community, industry, and the public.

Members have access to speaker events and roundtable discussions, the opportunity to work in the club's investment group, and chance to get involved in the club's consulting services for small local biotechnology businesses.

The club's next event, for example, is Oct. 5, when Merck President and CEO Raymond Gilmartin will be appearing for a Company Spotlight talk.

According to its directors, the group also runs a start-up incubator to help entrepreneurs in the biotech arena.

It also publishes an online biotechnology magazine called the Industry Focus, which assembles articles from professors, researchers, and corporate executives as well as profiles of companies.

Other online offerings include research tools, a listing of upcoming events, and articles describing emerging technologies in detail.