简介

I am consistently motivated by the need to have as many students, faculty, citizens everywhere to be more connected to their only home, earth. I work to show that the process of science can actually provide solutions, ideas, and direction, especially in critical themes such as climate change and tropical rainforest conservation. This is best exemplified by the new degree program which I am initiating for Fall, 2011, a Masters in Global Ecology Education. This timely offering is particularly geared to science teachers, university instructors, informal educators, environmental advocates, and science media writers and broadcasters. I am also committed to bringing the long-overlooked realm of symbiosis into the lives of students, teachers, teachers-to-be, and researchers. Thus, I spend a lot of energy on my Symbiosis and Global Ecology courses, as well as in my role of Vice-President of the International Symbiosis Society, a group of accomplished life science researchers and educators from over thirty countries. Lastly, I direct the MAT program in science education, including overseeing the development of students toward the goal of being versatile and innovative teachers. This teacher development focus is crucial if we are to make in-roads in making for a healthier, more informed populace in the future. I am consistently guided and inspired by the stories of Nature – all organisms that have lived and live on the planet have a story, that is a history and experience, from which we can all learn and often be appropriately humbled.