EEMB in the News

2007 Naturalist of the Year

Genevieve (Genny) and Shane Anderson have been chosen as the 2007 Naturalist of the Year by the Western Society of Naturalists (WSN). WSN was founded in 1916 and is the second oldest surviving natural history society on the Pacific coast. Its primary objective is to stimulate general interest in biology, which it does effectively by bringing together students, faculty, researchers, and enthusiasts of natural history to share their research and philosophies at its annual meetings. These meetings are especially beneficial to graduate students, who gain exposure to the experience and expertise of professors and other senior practitioners in their chosen fields of study. The Naturalist of the Year award was established by WSN several years ago to recognize those individuals who, through their mentorship, research and service help define our future by inspiring young people with the wonders and sheer joy of natural history. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the first joint recipients of this award.

Ms. Anderson is a biology professor at Santa Barbara City College where she has taught classes in natural history, marine biology and biological oceanography for 34 years. She received her BA in Zoology from UCSB in 1968 and an MA biology from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in 1971. She has a great reputation as a teacher and mentor and has influenced thousands of students during her career. In 2001-02 she was honored as the" Annual Faculty Lecturer of the Year" chosen by her faculty colleagues and students at Santa Barbara City College to deliver an address on a scholarly subject of her choice. The criteria for this award was based on outstanding classroom teaching, counseling or librarianship, and unselfish, dedicated faculty service to Santa Barbara City College. Her other more recent accomplishments include working with students to update and renovate the Robert J. Profant Teaching Museum (at Santa Barbara City College), and writing fun and interactive marine science lessons plans that students can access on the web (including an entirely online marine science course).

Mr. Anderson received an AA in biology from Santa Barbara City College in 1967 and a BS in biology from Hayward State University in 1971. He was hired as the resident Natural Historian / Marine Collector at UC Santa Barbara’s marine laboratory in 1975 and has been employed in this position for the past 32 years. He is responsible for collecting and maintaining marine organisms used for research and education at UCSB and he frequently responds to requests for local specimens from other institutions. While Shane does not have any formal teaching responsibilities he has influenced countless students, faculty and staff with his vast knowledge of marine life, and his enthusiasm and desire to share this knowledge with others. Students and scientists alike routinely consult with him on their course material and research. He is the favorite source of local media outlets when they are looking for a good story on marine life and has won several staff citation awards for excellent service to the University during his tenure there. He routinely assists Genny in her teaching efforts and their annual weekend field trip to Morro Bay to explore the mudflats and rocky intertidal is legendary.

Shane and Genny enjoy using large marine specimens to create wall hangings with the Japanese art of gyotaku (fish printing). A detailed print of the specimen is transferred to cloth using special inks. They usually work together, taking 3-4 days to finish one large (eight foot) print. Their work has been shown in galleries in Santa Ynez, Los Angeles and at the International Fish Print Show in Japan.