TEACHING

I teach for two main reasons. First, there isn't much cooler than when 'the lightbulb goes off' for someone. It really is amazing to watch (and attempt to facilitate) the learning process. Second, it is my belief that all students should have at least a fundamental background in biology and take an ecology or environmental science course because ecological knowledge is essential for providing the necessary tools needed for environmental stewardship and sustainability. My broad objectives for students include to:

Develop a genuine interest in learning.
Build scientific inquiry and literacy and more generally, problem solving skills
Foster effective communication skills
Establish an appreciation of ecology and the environmental sciences, understand and evaluate how humans interact with and otherwise relate to their natural world.