Professional Activity
Present Work:
PathFinder Science L.L.C., CEO and Lead Scientist
University of Kansas, Research Assistant Professor, Center for Research on Learning/Center for Science Education, Assistant Director, Center for Science Education Center.
Past Employment:
- University of Kansas, Project Coordinator of the Kansas Collaborative Research Network, Center for Research on Learning and Research Scientist, Science Education Center. School of Education instructor for the elementary and secondary science methods classes.
- Olathe East High School, Science department from 1992 to 1997. I helped open this new Olathe High School, teaching General Biology and Student Naturalist.
- Genentech, Protein Engineering. 1995 and 1996. Intern lab work involved creating and testing mutations of a human protein involved in inflammation.
- Olathe South High School, Science department form 1981 to 1992. I helped open the new school and taught College Prepatory Chemistry, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Physical Science, Anatomy/Physiology, Student Naturalist, and General Biology.
- Notre Dame de Sion, Middle School, Science and Religion Teacher, 1976-1979
Education Activities
State of Kansas Science Curriculum Standards, 1998-2005
The State of Kansas Science Education Curriculum Standards Committee 1998-2001.
Chairman, State of Kansas Science Education Curriculum Standards Committee 2004-2005
Instructional Material review with Curriculum Standards alignment, 2004.
The Prairie Center - Director, 1985-1997
The Prairie Center is a 300-acre tallgrass prairie nature center, responsible for the
coordination of all events and activities, education programming, habitat management
and preservation, research and fundraising.
Cofounder and Director of the Outdoor Education Laboratory, 1975-1996
This not-for-profit education organization grew to involve over 1000 students each
summer in programs teaching about wildlife biology, natural history,
and environmental issues.
National Science Foundation,
Panel reviews in Education, ESIE - IMD and Engineering (biocomplexity).
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Grant reviews in informal science and Pre College programs
U.S. Department of Education
Project director of the KanCRN Collaborative Research Network, a technology Innovation Challenge Grant
Grant Reviewer in bilingual education
Putnam City Schools
School year Professional Development Program of district science teachers.
Kansas City Kansas Public Schools
School year Professional Development Program of district science teachers.
Blue Valley School District
School year Professional Development Program of district science teachers.
Olathe School District
School year Professional Development Program of district science teachers.
Anderson Indiana
Summer Professional Development Program for county-wide science teachers.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Classroom Feeder Watch and Cornell Nest Box Network
Advisory board.
Global Laboratory
Contributing developer, scientific consultant, and participating teacher. The Global Lab curriculum seeks to build an integrated investigative environment.
Access Excellence
Summer Scholar Program
Computer instructor and coordinator during the Fellows Summit.
Science Pioneers
Greater Kansas City Science Fair - Judge, over 20 years
Science Wise - Internet Instructor for area science teachers
Teacher's Advisory Board
Professional Organizations
National Science Teachers Association
Kansas Association of Teachers of Science
Board Member, Director-Summer Science Program
National Association of Biology Teachers
Kansas Association of Biology Teachers
President - 1993-1996, President-elect, Vice-President, Life Member
Association for the Education of Teachers in Science
National Association for Research in Science Teaching
National Center for Science Education
Project "Steve"
Recent Presentations
2002 - ESRI (GIS) Educational Education User Conference, San Diego, GIS in context Problem-centered learning in online collaborative; The Digital Monarch Watch
2001 -The Brandwein Summer Leadership Institute, Instructor/facilitator for biodiversity and leadership conference.
2001 - ESRI (GIS) Educational User Conference, San Diego, GIS in context Problem-centered learning in online collaborative, Project Based Learning: Where technology, science, and geography become one, In Pursuit: Research and Training for GIS in Collaborative Networks
2001 - ESRI User Conference, San Diego, Webcasting technologies to enhance and deliver GIS events
2001 - National Council for Geography Education, Vancouver, Extending Scientific Inquiry through GIS
2000 - National Conference on the Teaching of Evolution (NCTE), Berkeley, Invited keynote speaker, The Evolution Crisis in Kansas. This NSF sponsored conference brought together a broad representation of scientific, educational, and other interested professional organizations to improve the quality and accessibility of materials that support the teaching of evolution.
2000 - Bioforum , for Prentice Hall, Cal State Fullerton, Kansas and teaching evolution.
2000 -The Brandwein Summer Leadership Institute, Instructor/facilitator for biodiversity and leadership conference.
2000 - Educational Application of GIS, San Bernardino, The KanCRN Collaborative Research Network
2000 - ESRI (GIS) User Conference, San Diego, Using GIS in project-based scientific inquiry.
2000 - Kansas Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation, KCETP, University of Kansas, Water Quality Workshop Instructor/facilitator in this teacher development course.
2000 - National Association for Research in Science Teaching; NARST, Panel presentation on Evolution and the Kansas Science Education Curriculum Standards.
2000 - National Science Teachers Association National Convention, Orlando
2000 - Bioforum, for Prentice Hall, Baltimore, Kansas Science Standards and teaching evolution.
2000 - Project Whistlestop Teacher Development, Independence Missouri, Workshop on project-based learning and scientific inquiry.
1999- U. S. Department of Education's Improving America's Schools, Regional Conference, Invited presentation on the "Kansas Collaborative Research Network."
1999 - Sigma Xi Forum, Reshaping Undergraduate Science and Engineering Education: Tools for Better Learning Minneapolis, MN, Inquiry in the Preparation of Future K-12 Science Educators.
1999 - National Association of Biology Teachers National Convention - Kansas Collaborative Research Network, Using Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Data, Tardigrades.
1999- Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Kansas Collaborative Research Network, full day of teacher development in project-based learning and KanCRN research design, Kansas State Science Standards, Update and review.
1999 - Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Full day workshop on the activities and research of the Kansas Collaborative Research Network, Update on the Kansas Science Standards.
1999 - National Science Teachers Association National Convention, Boston, Using geographic information systems in student inquiry, KanCRN; Project-based Collaborative Research
1999 - Association for the Education of Teachers in Science; AETS Annual Meeting, Paper presentation on the research design for the evaluation of the Kansas Collaborative Research Network
1999- Pacific Southwest Regional Technology in Education Consortium, Bridging the Digital Divide, Invited presentation on the "Kansas Collaborative Research Network."
1998- U. S. Department of Education's 2000 and Beyond, sharing the Knowledge and Educational Technology, Invited presentation on the "Kansas Collaborative Research Network."
1998- U. S. Department of Education's Improving America's Schools, Regional Conference, Invited presentation on the "Kansas Collaborative Research Network."
1998 - Kansas Association of Biology Teachers, presentation on the Kansas Collaborative Research Network.
1998 - National Association of Biology Teachers National Convention - Kansas Collaborative Research Network
1998 - 4 Directions Summer Institute - Kansas Collaborative Research Network
1998 - Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Full day workshop on the activities and research of the Kansas Collaborative Research Network.
1997- U. S. Department of Education's Improving America's Schools, Regional Conference, Invited presentation on the "Kansas Collaborative Research Network."
1996- National Science Teachers Association Global Summit, Presentation on "Access Excellence, Online Collaborative Research."
1996- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Pre-college Science Education Program, Presentation on "Access Excellence, Online Collaborative Research."
1996 - National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Science, Keynote address on "Student Scientist Partnerships, An Educators Own Dream Story."
1996 - National Science Teachers Association National Convention, Workshop on "Access Excellence, building a community of Biology Teachers." Exhibitor workshops on "Developing and Electronic Community of Biology Teachers
1995 - National Science Teachers Association National Convention, Workshop on "Access Excellence, building a community of Biology Teachers." Exhibitor workshops on "Developing and Electronic Community of Biology Teachers".
1995 - National Science Teachers Association Regional Convention, Workshop on "Access Excellence, building a community of Biology Teachers."
1994 - National Geographic Society and National Science Foundation, Invited Presentation on "The Monarch Watch" First International Conference for Educational Uses for Geographic Information Systems (EDGIS)
1993 - National Science Teachers Association National Convention, Presentations on " Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Satellites, The Kansas Environmental Monitoring Network, and Guided Tours of the Prairie Center.
1993 - AAAS Forum for School Science, "In Pursuit of Excellence and Equity: Models from Effective Science Teaching." KEMNET, The Kansas Environmental Monitoring Network.
1993 - The Tenth International Conference on Technology and Education, "The Kansas Environmental Monitoring Network."
1992 - Kansas Association of Biology Teachers - Kansas Environmental Monitoring Network
1991 - Second International Conference on Education and Global Ecology, KEMNET and the Global Lab.
1991- Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Kansas Environmental Monitoring Network, The Prairie Center, Project GREEN, and New Science Teacher Enrichment Program.
1990 - Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, The Prairie Center, The Outdoor Education Laboratory.
1989 - Technology in Education, Apple Computer Conference, Hypercard and Interactive Video.
1989 - Urban Wildlife Conference, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, Wildlife Education in an Urban Area, Panel Host and Presenter.
1989 - Mid-American Association of Computers in Education, Hypercard and Interactive Video.