Teaching

Natural Resource Management Practice (RNR 384) (spring, University of Arizona)

Natural resource management is facing new challenges. Rapidly changing environments are demanding adaptive approaches to solving some of our most pressing problems. With an emphasis on ecological and social principles, the class explore the role of natural resource management in mitigating impacts of land-use across different ecosystems. This course examines how governmental and non-governmental resource management agencies shape policies and influence mandates. Given the pace of anthropogenic change our natural environments are experiencing, coupled with the impacts on human society, the class also explores how adaptive natural resource management can lead us to a more sustainable future.

Sustainable Earth (RNR 150) (fall, University of Arizona)

Life support systems on planet Earth are becoming progressively more challenged by a global population that has exceeded 7 billion people. With a focus on natural ecosystems, we will explore how society deals with threats to the planetary goods and services on which life depends. Sustainability lies at the intersection of the environment, society and economics. We will explore environmental, societal and economic strategies humans might develop to become effective stewards of our natural resources and achieve a sustainable Earth.

Watershed Hydrology (HWRS/WSM 460/450) (fall, University of Arizona)

Watershed hydrology examines how water movement, storage, and transformation on the Earth’s surface is influenced by landscape characteristics, including human modifications of those characteristics, and weather. As such, watershed hydrology will focus primarily on surface water, although a brief introduction to groundwater as it pertains to watershed hydrology will be presented. This class consists of lectures, labs, and field trips, emphasizing the practical aspects of hydrology.

Principles of Biological Diversity (BIOB 170) (fall/spring, Montana State University)

The goal of this course is to expose students to the major themes in the study of life, principles of evolution, dominant groups of organisms and their diversity/function, and fundamental principles of ecology.

Ecological Responses to Climate Change (BIOE 375) (spring, Montana State University)

In this course, we explore how ecosystems are responding to climate change at a range of spatial and temporal scales. The first third of the class examines Earth’s climate system and the goal is to understand the physical basis for climate change. The second third of the course explores the ecological responses, such as changes in species distribution, phenology, and predator-prey interactions. Finally, in the last third of the course, we examine the social aspect of climate change, including mitigation and adaptation strategies, and climate change policies.

Plant Physiological Ecology, Graduate Level (BIOE 532) (fall, Montana State University)

This course examines how plants respond to the environment through changes in biochemistry, physiology, and morphology.  We will begin exploring topics including photosynthesis, respiration, water transport, nutrient acquisition, symbiotic associations, and finally ecosystem and global processes.