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Hancock Biological Station


Terry L. Derting
My research training is in the area of physiological ecology, primarily with small mammals. My research interests include energetics, the physiology of behavior, biodiversity and conservation, and curriculum improvement. I have been employed at Murray State University for five years, during which I have served continually as the advisor for the Secondary Education program in the Biological Sciences. My teaching experiences include human physiology, animal physiology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, human anatomy, embryology, developmental biology, vertebrate ecology, conservation, ethics in biology, genetics, histology, mammalogy, and physiological ecology. My interests in curriculum development stem primarily from my involvement with BioQUEST while employed at Beloit College, WI. Through BioQUEST, I became involved in the development of methods to enhance hands-on, active learning by students rather than passive learning. A major contribution that resulted from my work with BioQUEST was a chapter (in review) discussing the use of active-inquiry in field environments by teachers and students. Much of the chapter was based on my experiences teaching Field Studies in Ecology in Belize and Ecuador and with high school teachers during a summer BioQUEST workshop. Most recently I have helped to implement, in our College of Science, an inquiry-based multi-disciplinary course (Introduction to Science) that is based on the National Education Standards. The course is directed towards students majoring in elementary and middle school education and non-science majors. Assessment of the course has relied heavily on materials developed by Workshop Biology. Teaching through research also plays a significant role in my professional activities. I regularly mentor undergraduate and graduate students in research, with a majority of those students proceeding to present their research at regional meetings, to co-author presentations at a national meeting, or to co-author a publication in a peer-reviewed journal. I am active nationally as a member on a variety of education-related committees of the American Society of Mammalogists and an executive member of the Association of College and University Biology Educators.

 

William E. Spencer, Ph.D.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Biol. Sci. at Murray State University, Murray, KY. I am a teacher and practicing scientist. I teach freshman General Botany to our majors and Introductory Biology to non-majors. I have also taught Human Biology for Social Workers and Plant Ecology. I teach Wetland Ecology each summer at the Hancock Biological Station (HBS), and the laboratory parts of the Aquatic Vascular Plants, and Plant Physiology at HBS during the school year. I am interested in learning how to better utilize HBS to enhance undergraduate education, and to improve pre-service preparation of elementary and secondary teachers. Although like many science Ph.D.s I have no formal course work in education methodology, I am very interested in learning how to become a more effective teacher. As a scientist I have published 15 peer review papers, 2 theses, 8 technical reports, 15 abstracts, and have given 14 unpublished oral presentations. I have received two large federal grants, and several smaller state grants. I have co-published with both undergraduate and graduate students. I am a member of several professional societies. I have a small wetland consulting business.

 

Judy Ratliff

I am an assistant professor in the Dept. of Chemistry at Murray State University, a position I have held for five years now. I taught high school chemistry and physics for 4 years after graduation from Berea College. While teaching high school I completed a master's degree in science education (M. A. Ed.) at Eastern KY University then left to complete my Ph. D. in chemistry at the University of KY. I teach general education chemistry courses as well as some of the more advanced ones. My favorites are Consumer Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Instrumental Analysis. My field experience consists mostly of sampling for later analysis- or fun - I am trying to build a seashell collection. I have been fortunate enough to have worked for two summers with a Marine Biologist at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City Florida where we focused on methods for monitoring and remediating military wastes. I am very interested in teaching science to students with disabilities and helping others to be able to do so. I am actively involved in the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program, the Kentucky Academy of Science, the National Science Teachers Association and several other professional groups and honor societies. I currently have two graduate students and three undergraduates working on environmental or education based projects.

 

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