top of page
white island.JPG
DO.jfif
Fisher_Center_edited.jpg
hanley.jfif
Rome.JPG
Heron_24.jpg

A student of biology must concurrently grow roots into the amassed canon of biological knowledge and wings to become an independent and original experimenter. As a teacher, I guide apprentice scientists in interpreting interconnected information, applying that knowledge to test novel hypotheses, and then distilling findings into clear oral and written communications. Importantly, these facets of becoming a biologist are learned at varied paces among students, in a non-linear fashion within a student, and with increasing nuance and attention to detail as students mature. In response to these challenges, several pedagogical principles guide my teaching: (1) centering course content around objectives that are accessible to students and endorsed by both biologists and pedagogues; (2) using diverse teaching methods to engage students in topics that stimulate and sustain learning; and (3) using assessments that encourage deeper understanding, application, and retention. I apply this anthem to all my courses, including those in my scholarly niche, core biology requirements, the general curriculum, and mentoring undergraduate research students.

Courses Taught @ Hobart and William Smith Colleges 

 

  • Biological Statistics 

  • Ecology 

  • Aquatic Biology 

  • Invasive Species Biology 

  • Suspended Animation: how & why organisms put life on hold

  • Nature in the Future

  • Science/Fiction/Prediction 

 

Study Abroad Programs and Courses

 

Italy 2020

  • Urban Ecology of Rome 

  • The Art & Science of Graphical Representations 

​

Guatemala 2016

  • Ecology & Culture in Guatemala 

​

Australia and New Zealand  2010, 2012

  • Sustainability Down Under 

  • Biogeography of Australia and New Zealand 

 

Russia 2009

  • Modern Siberia 

​​

Undergraduate Research Projects

​

Ecology projects

  • Leaf Decomposition in the Glenwood Cemetery Creek, Coppers' Woods (Sarah Gray)

  • Differences in the food-web structure and productivity of pond habitats (Penelope Murphy)

  • Taxonomic composition and methylmercury in zooplankton (Rachel Best)

  • Methylmercury bioaccumulation in nearshore invertebrates (Kayleigh Buffington)

  • The potential use of environmental DNA for detection of Hemimysis (Kathleen Mendez)

  • Age and size predictors of mercury accumulation in Lake Trout (Alexander Gatch)

  • Using paleolimnology to study the last 100 Years of Owasco Lake (Corey Gallagher)

  • Effects of temperature and prey type on Hemimysis feeding (Nicolas Steijn)

  • Invasive plankton and the potential impacts on fish diets (Matthew Paufve)

  • Sediment loading and seiche transparency impact Daphnia retrocurva (Eleanor Milano)

  • Water quality controls in the southern basin of Cayuga Lake (Owen Hatch)

  • Population dynamics of Corbicula fluminea in the Seneca River (Bart Fylnn)

  • Developing light-based traps as a novel detection method for Hemimysis (Jamila Roth)    

  • Measuring predation of native and naturalized fish predators with video (Madison Sutton)

  • The fishhook waterflea’s impact on the native plankton assemblage (Jessica Popp)

  • Resting egg accumulation in deep and shallow locations of Seneca Lake (Michael Ellis)

  • Analysis of two management techniques for European frogbit (Bethany Bashaw)

  • Tracking the history of Cercopagis pengoi in Owasco Lake via lake sediments (Cam Avelis)

  • Does the PEG model apply to Seneca Lake? (Emily Runnells)

  • The Road to Immortality: exploring resting stages of native zooplankton (Taylor Raufus)

  • A tale of two ponds: the patterns of zooplankton in the Hanley ponds (Matthew Whalen)

  • Fish predators shape divergent pond productivity (Ryan Aruk)

  • Using zooplankton size to investigate trophic cascades in pond ecosystems (Stephanie Fisher)

  • Potential impacts of the fishhook waterflea in Seneca Lake (Laura Cummins)

  • Effects of the invasive diatom Didymosphenia geminata on stream invertebrates (Clancy Brown)

  • Vertical migration in the crustacean zooplankton taxa of Seneca Lake (Thomas Rood)

  • Invertebrate predator density and distribution (Joe Sullivan)

 

Environmental and interdisciplinary studies

  •  Lake Huron water-level fluctuations are impacting island and inland-lake area (Janne Knieke)

  • Aquatic education in the Finger Lakes, new materials for Science on Seneca (Rachel Best)

  • Connecting dance and the environment (Kathleen Merino)

  • Cold frame farming at Hobart & William Smith (Derek Weiss)

  • Using Lake Baikal as tool for environmental education (Margaret Yovanoff)

  • Capturing underwater wonder through watercolor (Melissa Gaydos)

Brown-Megan-2.jpg

I also teach for Science on Seneca, an EPA-award-winning environmental education program for middle and high school students, and the Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institue. Science on Seneca was featured in Philippe Cousteau's 

oZ.jpg
Ruapehu (17).JPG
trees.jpg
bottom of page