Teaching

My teaching is in the area of ecology and the application of ecological knowledge to environmental problem solving. I am particularly passionate about teaching courses that get students out into the field to evaluate real world ecosystem management problems and to apply knowledge acquired in the classroom to thinking about how to solve particular challenges at hand. My field course ES/EEMB 119, involves field trips each week to visit a variety of ecosystem and measure aspects of those systems. In addition students meet with managers in the field to hear first hand about the challenges and conflicts they face in trying to manage these ecosystems. My restoration ecology course also involves weekly field trips and hands on measurements of soil and plant characteristics and focuses on bringing concepts from lecture to the field.

Plant ecology research seminar is a once a week graduate course where graduate students and faculty share their ongoing research or read recent literature in plant or ecosystem ecology. Emphasis is placed on honing presentation skills as well as giving and getting feedback on research questions and problems.

Courses:
ES 100 Environmental Ecology
ES/EEMB 119, Ecology and Management of CA Wildlands
ES/EEMB 128, Foundations of Ecosystem Restoration
ES/EEMB 595, Plant Ecology Research Seminar

Class Descriptions

	ES/EEMB 119- Ecology & Management of California's wildlands The goals of this course are to expose students both to the ecology, and natural history of California wildland ecosystems AND to the challenges of managing these systems for conservation values. We will explore what is known about controls over the structure, dynamics and composition of plant and animal communities in selected California environments and some of the constraints and conflicts in managing these habitats for conservation purposes. The Friday meeting time includes 5 field trips and 5 discussions with managers and visiting scientists who will explore how ecological knowledge is used to manage wildland habitat or threatened species. Offered Fall quarter See Photos!
	ES/EEMB 128- Ecological Constraints to Ecosystem Restoration Integrates ecological principles with practical issues involved in ecosystem restoration. Beginning with the challenge of selecting goals and establishing a target trajectory, students evaluate how ecological knowledge can guide restoration and whether sustainable states or trajectories can be achieved. Offered Spring quarter See Photos!

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES: In addition to my teaching, I am the faculty director of the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) (http://ccber.lifesci.ucsb.edu/). I work with CCBER staff and UCSB faculty to promote research and education using CCBER's natural history collections and restoration sites. CCBER offers a range of seminars and internships for students including museum curation, field restoration internships, and internships working in K-12 outreach environmental education. I am also the faculty advisor for the Coal Oil Point Reserve, part of UCSB's Natural Reserve System, and I serve on UCSB's Natural Reserve Advisory Board. Numerous opportunities for student research and volunteerism are available through the Natural Reserve System (http://nrs.ucsb.edu/).