EDUCATION and OUTREACH
Whether I'm in a K-12 classroom, a university lecture, or at a public event, I strive to be a more effective instructor with every lesson I teach. I work hard to make my classes engaging and accommodating so students can learn by doing. My teaching philosophy is based on big-picture thinking, and my goal is to create memorable, tactile experiences to illustrate complex ideas and encourage creative and critical thinking.
RECENT OUTREACH
VINS Science Symposium, Quechee VT
I had the pleasure to be a keynote speaker for the 2024 annual Science Symposium at Vermont Institute of Natural Science. I spoke with a 5th grade group about the mysterious microorganisms that breathe in Earth's soil. We measured their carbon dioxide production with a greenhouse gas analyzer and learned about ways to support soil microbes at home! Learn more about the symposium here.
Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative
Panel Speaker
I joined a panel of experts in soil sensors to discuss ways to remotely measure soil properties and detect relationships between vegetation and soil characteristics.
Featured: Rooted in Research
I spoke with Jenna Zukswert, USDA Forest Service, about my work studying soil microbial community composition. Read more about the project here!
Featured: National Ecological Observatory Network
In this interview, I discussed my work aimed at understanding how soil fungal communities influence carbon storage and long term retention across the eastern United States. Read more about the project here!
Resources for teaching ecology
I created a Data Nugget for K-12 educators where students can use my research data to learn about the soil carbon cycle and practice creating scientific visualizations.
I also update this folder sporadically with new resources that I find useful for teaching ecology and learning about the theory and practice of teaching science.
Carbon-Work-Study Discussion series, hosted by Sustainable Woodstock at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, Woodstock, VT