Teaching

Biogeochemical Processes (EEB 4611)

Taught every spring semester

Description: Application of biochemistry, ecology, chemistry, and physics to environmental issues. I like to describe this course as trying to understand the Earth as a collection of ecosystems. We deal with current issues in biogeochemistry emphasizig the impact of humans on biogeochemical processes in soils, lakes, oceans, estuaries, forests, urban/managed ecosystems, and extreme environments (e.g., early Earth, deep sea vents, thermal springs).

Brewing: The biology, practice and history (BIOL 2100)

Taught every spring semester

Description: Humans have been using microorganisms for thousands of years to produce fermented beverages. This course explores the history of brewing, microbiology, biochemistry and biological concepts such as competition, using brewing as a model. In this class you will learn how this ancient process has developed and discuss how brewing has both shaped and been shaped by human history and biology. And that’s not all...We will also learn about the processes involved in beer production from the selection of microbial strains for fermentation to the growth, selection and chemistry of hops.