Teaching
My primary undergraduate teaching at the University of Maine is courses on marine and freshwater algae and senior capstone research. I also direct about two senior theses each year. My algal course takes a field trip each year to the University’s marine lab (the Darling Marine Center at Damariscotta) where we do plankton tows and macroalgal studies. Our laboratory exercises include the culture of algae, fluorescence microscopy, and molecular barcoding exercises.
Recently, I directed a NSF Graduate Student to K-12 (GK-12) program at the University of Maine, which placed science and technology graduate students in collaborations with teachers and K-12 students throughout the Penobscot River Educational Partnership’s districts. This project won the 2006 New England Board of Higher Education’s Regional Award for Project Excellence. I am committed to improving the public’s general understanding of science.
SMS 373 – Marine and Freshwater Algae
A comprehensive introduction to the algae (freshwater and marine), including their evolution, physiology, life histories, and ecology. All aspects of the course emphasize the fundamental roles of the algae in shaping the evolution of other life on Earth and determining characteristics of different ecosystems and foodwebs. Laboratory work will emphasize the study of living material and include special projects and field trips. Students will become competent microscopists.
SMS 373 (2013) at Maine Coast Sea Vegetables in Franklin Maine presenting project results
SMS 373 (2014) after a successful day of sampling Ascophyllum nodosum
SMS 373 (2015) with their Microcystis samples ready for PCR amplification
SMS 528 – Advanced Phycology
Current and classic discoveries including classification, the theories of primary and secondary endosymbiosis, toxic algae and circadian rhythms.
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