Current Teaching
Soil Biology (SOIL SCI 323)
This course, designed for both undergraduates and graduate students, explores microorganisms and fauna and their connection with soil, plant and planetary health. Plant-microbe interactions, the role of microorganisms and fauna in nutrient cycling and pathogenic organisms are just some of the concepts covered. The class engages in active discussion about case studies that connect the role of soil biology as it relates to food production systems, water quality, and climate change. Students also gain an understanding of the scientific techniques used to measure different aspects of soil biology. This is a great class for students to learn more about soil, and how the biological component of soil affects the world.
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry (SOIL SCI/MICROBIO 523)
Soils are among the most microbially diverse habitats on Earth. What organisms are found there and how do they live? High-throughput sequencing allows us to “see” soil microbes like never before, but how do we work with the data and what are its limitations? These questions are essential for understanding the roles soil microbes play in the globally relevant processes of climate change and nutrient cycling. Soil microbes also provide us an exciting platform to investigate fundamental ecological principles. We will investigate soil microbiology and biogeochemistry in this course through a combination of lectures, journal article discussions, a group project, and working with high-throughput sequencing data.
Previous Teaching
Introduction to Environmental Sciences (SOIL SCI 250)
Planet Earth is an interconnected system dominated by the ever-present, ever-changing, and awe-inspiring exchange of materials and energy that control the fitness and fate of all living organisms. Environmental Science describes a broad discipline that uses the tools of science to study, explain, and address challenges related to the environment and our interaction with it. In this course, we will explore this interdisciplinary field by providing a broad overview of the foundational concepts used to make sense of these relationships. We will examine how natural systems work (including the science itself), the services these systems provide, some important environmental challenges facing these systems, the complexity of sustainability, and how people are working in the field.
Forum on the Environment (SOIL SCI / ENV ST 101)
This seminar course is designed to explore current environmental issues. The course will address general concerns such as global change, sustainability, and environmental quality through examination of a wide range of issues and perspectives. Students will examine current issues rooted in environmental sciences by participating in lectures, discussions, group work, and a small group project. The course is designed as a sampling of a wide range of topics rather than attempting to be comprehensive in scope. We will encourage you to ask questions about the environment, seek sources of information to answer these questions, evaluate information sources to understand the quality of evidence provided, and explore how to implement what we have learned in our individual career paths and as a community.