Introduction

I split my time between teaching in the Biology department of Beloit College and working with science education reformers with the BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium. BioQUEST is a consortium of educators involved in the reform of undergraduate biology and supports educators in the collaborative development of curricula, simulations tools and data bases to construct learning environments.

Prior to coming to Beloit, I worked in national science education initiatives (The Wisconsin Fast Plant Program, The Bottle Biology Program, The Earth Partnership Program and National AgriScience Institute) and co-authored several books of instructional materials for students and teachers from the kindergarten through undergraduate level.

In addition to my interests in science education and curricular reform I am deeply interested in what is currently termed biocomplexity, the study of interactions among the biological, geophysical, and human dimensions of ecosystems and society. I believe that in a wholistic examination of culture, and environment we will find the most interesting questions and useful answers.

In 2003 I co-directed the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Tanzania Program, Studies in Ecology and Human Evolution, at the University of Dar es Salaam.