Courses

Fall Semester 2007, Environmental Ecology (ENV 326), Northern Arizona University 

Guest Lecturing

I also enjoy teaching children and the general public regarding the excitement and enjoyment I have found through scientific exploration. It is vitally important for me to share the science and our scientific discoveries with the general public. I strive to make science fun and palatable in the eyes of not just scientists, but to everyone. In ancient Athens, scientists were revered and viewed as beacons of knowledge by the populous; unfortunately, this is not the case in today’s society. So, one of my goals as a scientist is to convey my knowledge in a way that is both entertaining and informative. My hope is if enough scientists are active in outreach, the public may again view scientists as the Athenians once did. 

Additionally, because caves are the most sensitive terrestrial habitat on the planet, it is vitally important that I continue public outreach in schools and other appropriate venues to educate and heighten awareness regarding the importance and sensitivity of these ecosystems. I speak on a wide range of topics including tropical and arid cave ecosystems, cave invertebrate taxa, and the importance of bat and cave conservation. I also speak on the search for life on Mars through cave exploration on Earth. Over the past five years, I have given presentations on these subjects to students ranging from 2nd graders to college freshmen, as well as other public forums. 

If you are interested in scheduling a talk, please email me. 

Outreach to date:

2007 DeMiguel Elementary School, Flagstaff, AZ. Gave lecture to entire 6th grade about the search for cave life on Mars (students audience: ~120 attendees). 

2007 NAU Department of Biological Sciences Seminar Series, Flagstaff, AZ. Presentation: Astrobiological Implications for Detecting Caves on Mars (graduate students and professional scientists: ~50 attendees). 

2007 Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ. Presentation: If there’s life, it’s underground! The search for caves on Mars (general public: ~45 attendees). 

2007 NAU Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Guest lecturer for Biology 101 Classes. Presentation: Cave invertebrates of Arizona and Belize (college students: ~40 attendees). 

2006 Needlewood Middle School, Brunswick, GA. Gave lecture to three 6th grade classes on astrobiology, Mars and searching for life underground (science student audience: ~60 attendees). 

2006 DeMiguel Elementary School, Flagstaff, AZ. Taught 6th graders about bat ecology and conservation (students audience: 26 attendees). 

2006 The Mission Gallery and Coffee House, Grants, NM. Presentation: Astrobiology and the Search for Martian Cave Life (general public: 10 attendees). 

2006 Flagstaff Festival of Science Twilight Talk Series, AZ. Presentation: Astrobiology and the Search for Martian Cave Life (general pubic: ~45 attendees).

2006 Flagstaff Cultural Partners Annual Fundraiser, AZ. 2006. Presentation: Cave-adaptation and cave-dwelling animals of Arizona and Belize (general public: ~55 attendees). 

2006 NAU Department of Biological Sciences Seminar Series, Flagstaff, AZ. Presentation: Sensitive Ecological Areas and Species Inventory of Actun Chapat, Vaca Plateau, Belize (graduate students and professional scientists: ~40 attendees). 

2006 USGS-Flagstaff Field Center Monthly Lecture Series. Presentation: Sensitive Ecological Areas and Species Inventory of Actun Chapat, Vaca Plateau, Belize (professional scientists: ~30 attendees). 

2005 Three Rivers Regional Library Lecture Series, Brunswick, GA. 2005. Presentation: Bats and beasties of arid and tropical caves (general public: ~20 attendees). 

2005 USGS Open House Lecture Series, Flagstaff, AZ. Gave presentation to three 2nd grade classes on caves ecology of tropical caves (students and 2nd grade teachers: ~40 attendees). 

2005 Flagstaff Festival of Science Lecture Series, AZ. Presentation: Cave-dwelling Fauna of Arizona and Belize (general public: ~40 attendees). 

2003-04 Flagstaff Festival of Science In-Classroom Lecture Series. Developed curricula and taught 1st through 10th graders regarding the importance of bats and caves (students: ~100 attendees).