Places To Visit ( one of the following:)
My academic interests include environmental science, hydrology, environmental chemistry, and anthropology plus experiential and inquiry-based learning/teaching of the sciences and the development of science labs for distance learning. My personal interests include foreign travel, and my wife and I have lived and traveled extensively around the world. We live according to the motto: "Adventure is intellectual curiosity in action"
In the summer of 2003, we took a Study Abroad group to Costa Rica to study rainforest ecology and enjoyed the experience afresh just as we have in each of our many visits to this beautiful land of “pura vida!” After returning to the States, we repacked our bags for southern Africa where we spent the 2003/2004 academic year on a Fulbright Grant at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia. Although my work at the Center for External Studies kept me quite busy, we still had time to explore the country's scenery and wildlife and to interact with several of the indigenous ethnic groups. Within a few days of our return to Colorado from Namibia in late May 2004, we left again, this time to take our "Great Travels" group to China and Tibet for three weeks. The trip was originally planned for May 2003, but the SARS epidemic in China at that time forced us to delay the trip by a year. This was a real eye-opening trip, especially considering China’s rapid advances onto the world’s political and economic stages.
In summer of 2002, we took a "Great Travels/Study Abroad group on a three-week trip to Peru. We spent the first week doing rain forest ecology along the Rio de Madre Dios in Manu National Park area This was followed by a week of archeology in the Cusco area, including a trip to Macchu Picchu, truly one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites! The third week was spent visiting archeological sites and indigenous people in the Lake Titicaca area.
During 2001 and 2002, I gave presentations on distance learning in the sciences at the NISOD conference in Austin, TX and at the AAPT conference in Boise, ID. Over the Christmas break, Linda and I traveled to Maharashtra State, India to participate in a Rotary project to fight malnutrition and infant mortality in the Melghat Tribal area.
In 2001, I was named "Colorado's
Distance Educator of the Year" and in the summer of 2001 we took a
group of
students to Honduras and the island of Roatan to study rainforest
ecology and marine biology. After returning from Honduras, I
participated in a one week
Biotechnololgy and Bioethics workshop in California that was organized
through Miami University's PACT program.
During my 1995/1996 sabbatical, I taught hydrology and environmental
science as a Fulbright
Professor at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and conducted water
quality research in Southern
Ethiopia. My wife, Linda, taught accounting and conducted a faculty
development project in quality education at Addis Ababa Commercial
College. During our stay in Ethiopia, we had ample opportunities to
travel around the country. Below are some
images from Ethiopia.
Every summer, Colorado Mountain College conducts Study Abroad Programs for its students and community members. These programs involve language and culture study combined with various science components. Typical science programs include rainforest ecology studies in Costa Rica; field biology in the Galapagos Islands; and marine biology in Belize or Honduras.
During the summer of 1995, we went to the Galapagos Islands. The first ten days were spent cruising aboa rd the Tip-Top III (with Capitain Rolf Wittmer). We visited the various islands during the day, studying their terrestrial and marine life, while travelling to the next island at night. Observing blue-footed boobies close-up and snorkeling with sea lions wa a unique experience that none of us will ever forget. The rest of the month was spent living with local families in Quito, studying Spanish and visiting numerous places around the country.
Our 1998, 1999 & 2000 Study Abroad adventures combined an intensive Spanish program (directed by Mary Ebuna) in San Jose, Costa Rica with a marine biology program at Ambergris Caye, San Pedr o, Belize. Our research vessel was a 48-ft catamaran from which we conducted daily diving/snorkeling trips to the nearby reefs. Accommodations on Ambergris Caye were originally at the Hideaway Hotel about 1/2 mile south of town and a block from the beach, but were moved to Belize Marine TREC's new facility at the south end of town. The classroom and laboratory facilities were excellent, as were our accommodations and the local food.
The rainforest ecology & marine biology program typically cost between US$ 1800.00 - 1900.00 including airfare. These programs is available to anyone at least 17 years old with a sense of adventure and a love of learning. Past participants ranged in age from 17 to 70 and have been mostly teachers and students. If you are interested give me a call at: (970) 947-8264
For detailed information on our 2002 Rainforest Ecology & Archaeology Program in Peru click here. The program will run from June 3 through June 23, 2002The Leadville area is a n old historical mining district, and the many years of mining activities left their mark on the land. Like many other Colorado mining towns, parts of Leadville were declared a "Superfund" site and slated for environmental clean-up. As unfortunate as this was for the town and its citizens, it was extremely beneficial for Colorado Mountain College's Environmental Technology students, as it provided them with a natural laboratory for their studies.
The Arkansas River starts a few miles north of Leadville. CMC's environmental technology students have been actively involved in its water quality monitoring and received Colorado's "Clean Water Award" for this effort.
The watershed for the Upper Arkansas River covers 13,000 square kilometers in central Colorado extending from the Continental Divide in Pike-San Isabel National Forest to Pueblo Reservoir where the plains meet the mountains.
Major environmental problems:From time to time, SUNY Brockport's CENTER FOR APPLIED AQUATIC SCIENCE AND AQUACULTURE is conducting three-week summer projects for undergraduate faculty that demonstrate environmental problem solving as an effective teaching strategy to stimulate undergraduates' interest in environmental science. Using the theme of Stressed Stream Analysis, participating faculty learn NEPA-based envir onmental analysis concepts and techniques. I participated in this workshop during the summer of 1995 and we used the following concepts and skills:
For a more
detailed report on Stressed
Stream Analysis see the following reference:
"Stressed Stream Analysis - Addressing Environmental Problems in Local
Communities" by James M. Haynes
Journal of College Science Teaching, Vol. 28, No.1 Sept/Oct. '98
