CURRICULUM VITAE (28 March 2009 uptdate)
Peter H. Wyckoff, Associate Professor of Biology
Biology Discipline, Division of Science and Mathematics
1375 Science Building, 600 East 4 th Street Morris, MN 56267
Campus Phone: (320) 589-6347 Home Phone: (320) 589-0402
EDUCATION
College and University Education
Ph. D. (Botany) - Duke University, Durham, NC (1999)
Thesis title: Growth and mortality of trees in the southern Appalachian Mountains
B. A. (Biology/ Political Science)- Drew University, Madison, NJ (1994)
Undergraduate Honors and Awards
Summa cum laude (1994); Honors in Biology (1994); Barry M. Goldwater Fellowship for the Sciences (1992-94); Peter Jennings Prize in Botany (1994); Paul Hardin Prize for Community Service (1994); Gold D Award for Service to the College (1994); Student Representative, Drew University Board of Trustees (1993-94); Student Body President (1993-94); Phi Beta Kappa (1993); Janet T. Siler Prize for writing on International Affairs (1993)
Graduate Honors and Awards
Sigma Xi Grant-in-aid of Research (1997,1996); National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (1997-99); Keever Grant for Field Work (1996); National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship (1994-98)
EMPLOYMENT
Professional Employment
Associate Professor, Biology Discipline, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN (2004-present)
Assistant Professor (2001- 2004)
Founding Coordinator, Environmental Studies Program, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN (2007-present)
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology (joint appointment with the Environmental Studies Program), Guilford College, Greensboro, NC (1999-2001)
Research Assistant, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY (summer 1993).
Research Assistant, Plant Pathology Dept., Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN (summer 1992).
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND HONORS
Professional Organization Memberships
Ecological Society of America, Sigma Xi
TEACHING AND ADVISING
University of Minnesota, Morris Courses Taught
Biol 1101: Principles of Biology (F01, S03, F03)
Biol 2101: Evolution of Biodiversity (F05, F07)
Biol 3131: Ecology (F02, F04, F06)
Biol 3700: Biological Communications I (F08)
Biol 4331: Global Change Ecology (S02, S04, S07, S09)
Enst 2101: Environmental Biology (F08)
IS 3209H: Honors: Apocalypse Now? (S07, S08)
IS 1036: The re-emerging threat of infectious disease (Sum 05, Sum 06, Sum 07, Sum 08)
Summer Scholars Program, Team taught with Dr. Timna Wyckoff
Nsci 1051: State of the Planet (S02, S04, S05, S08, S09)
Advised and coordinated 4 senior seminars in 2008 (30 total at UMM since F01)
Advised 3 biological communications II literature reviews in 2008 (32 total at UMM since F01)
Advised 7 student internships in 2008.
Other Teaching Experience
Courses Taught at Guilford College, Greensboro, NC:
General Botany The Ecology of Infectious Disease (First Year Sem)
Ecosystems and Global Change Terrestrial Ecology
Field Botany/Plant Biogeography
Fellow, Duke University’s Preparing Future Faculty program (1998-1999)
Teaching assistant, Duke University, Durham, NC:
Paleoecology Ecology
Introductory Biology Laboratory Teaching Assistant, Drew University, Madison, NJ
Special Teaching Methods Implemented
Introduce students to computer modeling (using STELLA and SORTIE software) in Biol 4331: Global Change Ecology.
Advising and Instruction-Related University Activities
Academic advisor for 48 students (3/27/09)
Authored the guidelines for an environmental studies area of concentration at UMM (2004- revised 2007)
Developed a pre-nursing study guide and took the lead on advising UMM pre-nursing students (2003—most recent revision 2009)
Research advisor for UROP projects:
Brenna Burns (2007), Becky Bombyk (2006-2007), Jessica Nagel (summer 2006), Grace Meyer (summer 2006), Andy Shaffer (summer 2005), Ruth Patten (summer 2004), Kris Juhlin (2003-2004), Rick Jansen (2002-2003)
Morris Academic Partners (MAP) supervisor for:
Matthew Bombyk (2007-2008), Ruth Patten (2004-2005); Andy Shaffer (2004-2005), Chandra Hutchens (2002-2003)
Minority Mentorship Program (MMP) supervisor for:
Jeff Aday (2008-2009), Song Xiong (2003-2004)
Other funded research assistants:
Jeff Aday (summer 2008), Jenna Gustafsson (2003), Rick Jansen (2003), Anders Oredson (2002); Rachel Bowers (2002), Lissa Carter (2000)
Volunteer research assistants: Tony Krueger (spring 2009), Logan Luce (spring 2009), Grace Meyer (summer 2005), Jessica Nagel (summer 2005)
At Guilford college:
Academic advisor for 38 students; Directed study advisor for 12 students
SCHOLARLY, PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY
Publications
Research Articles:
1) Wyckoff, P. H. and R. Bowers, In review. Response of the prairie/forest border to climate change: impacts of increasing drought may be mitigated by increasing CO2. Submitted to the J. of Ecol January 2009.
2) Wyckoff, P. H. and J.S. Clark. 2005. Tree growth prediction using size and exposed crown area. Can J. of Forest Research 35 (1):13-20. (13 citations to this article listed in Google Scholars as of 3/27/09)
3) Wyckoff, P. H. and J. S. Clark. 2002. Growth and mortality for seven co-occurring tree species in the southern Appalachian Mountains. J. of Ecology 90: 604-615. (cited 43 times)
4) Keane, R., M. Austin, C. Field, A. Huth, M. Lexer, D. Peters, A. Solomon, and P.Wyckoff. 2001. Tree mortality in gap models: application to climate change. Climatic Change 51: 509-540 (cited 45 times).
5) Webb, S. L., M. Dwyer, C. Kaunzinger, and P. H. Wyckoff. 2000. The myth of the resilient forest: a case study of invasive Norway maple (Acer platanoides). Rhodora 102: 332-354 (cited 34 times).
6) Wyckoff, P. H. and J. S. Clark. 2000. Predicting tree mortality from diameter growth: a comparison of approaches. Can. J. of Forest Research 30(1): 156-167 (cited 29 times).
7) Clark, J. S., B. Beckage, P. Camill, B. Cleveland, J. HilleRisLambers, J. Lichter, J. MacLachlan, J. Mohan, and P. Wyckoff. 1999. Interpreting recruitment limitation in forests. American Journal of Botany 86:1-16 (cited 151 times).
8) Clark, J. S., C. Fastie, G. Hurtt, S. T. Jackson, C. Johnson, G. King, M. Lewis, J. Lynch, S. Pacala, C. Prentice, E. W. Schupp, T. Webb and P. H. Wyckoff. 1998. Dispersal theory offers solutions to Reid's Paradox of rapid plant migration. BioScience. 48(1): 13-24 (cited 154 times).
9) Wyckoff, P. H. and S. L. Webb. 1996. Understory influence of the invasive Norway maple (Acer platanoides) in the Drew University Forest Preserve. Bull. Tor. Bot. Club. 123(3): 197-205 (cited 40 times).
Research articles in prep:
Wyckoff, P. H.,R. Patten, T. Krueger and L. Luce. In prep. Growth of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) across gradients of light and soil moisture in west-central Minnesota.
Wyckoff, P. H., B. Burns, A. Shaffer and M. Bombyk. In prep. Surprising negative correlation between abundances of invasive earthworms and invasive European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) in west-central Minnesota.
Other peer reviewed articles:
Goodnough, T., A. Kildegaard, M.Kuchenreuther, L. Rasmussen, P. Wyckoff. In press 2009. Leveraging assets: a case study of the sustainability initiative at the University of Minnesota, Morris. The Journal of Cleaner Production(Elsevier).
Solicited Reports and Government Publications
1) Wyckoff, P. H., R. Jansen and R. Patten. 2005. The European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) invasion in west central Minnesota. In: Proceedings: Symposium on the Biology, Ecology and Management of Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). USDA Forest Service Pub. FHTET-2005-09: 49-52. (cited 2 times)
2) Wyckoff, P. H. and L. Carter. 2000. Influence of invasive Wisteria floribunda on understory diversity and composition at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. Commissioned by: Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Conference Papers and Presentations
1) Wyckoff, P., A. Shaffer and B. Bombyk. 2007. Extent and impact of exotic earthworm invasion in west central Minnesota. Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual meetings, San Jose, CA.
2) Meyer, G and P. Wyckoff. 2007. Impact of deer on tree recruitment at three sites in west-central Minnesota. Wildlife Management and Research in a Changing Environment Conference (The Wildlife Society), Alexandria, MN.
3) Shaffer, A. and P. H. Wyckoff. 2006. Exotic earthworm abundance in west-central Minnesota. Minnesota Natural Resources Conference (Society of American Foresters and Society for Conservation Biology), Brainerd, MN
4) Patton, R. and P. H. Wyckoff. 2005. European buckthorn (Rhamus cathartica)growth as a function of light availability and soil moisture. ESA, Montreal, Canada.
5) Wyckoff, P. H., R. Jansen and K. Juhlin. 2004. Extent and impacts of the Rhamus cathartica (European buckthorn) invasion in west central Minnesota. ESA, Portland, OR.
6) Jansen, R. and P. H. Wyckoff. 2004. The effects of buckthorn on the forest understory. National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), Indianapolis, IN.
7) Bowers, R. and P. H. Wyckoff. 2003. Climate sensitivity of Quercus macrocarpa along the prairie-forest border in west-central Minnesota. ESA, Savannah, GA.
8) Wyckoff, P. H. and J. S. Clark. 2001. Measuring tree growth as a function of light using low-level aerial photography. ESA, Madison, WI.
9) Wyckoff, P. H. and J. S. Clark. 1998. A Bayesian solution to estimating uncertainty in tree growth-rate/mortality relationships. ESA, Baltimore, MD.
10) Wyckoff, P. H. and J. S. Clark. 1997. Improved mortality functions alter the predictions of a gap-type forest model. ESA, Albuquerque, NM (Bull . Ecol. Soc. Amer. 78: 333).
11) Wyckoff, P. H. and J. S. Clark. 1997. Species-specific variation in the growth-mortality relationship for southern Appalachian trees: implications for forest development. US-International Association of Landscape Ecologists annual meeting, Durham, NC.
12) Wyckoff, P. H. and J. S. Clark. 1996. Species-specific differences in the growth-mortality relationship for southern Appalachian trees. ESA, Providence, RI (Bull . Ecol. Soc. Amer. 77:493.)
Invited Seminars
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 18 Nov. 2008
MN Department of Natural Resources, Workshop on Biology, Ecology and Management of Garlic Mustard and European Buckthorn, St. Paul, MN, 18 March 2005.
Carleton College, Dept. of Biology, Northfield, MN, 15 Nov. 2004
University of Minnesota, Dept. of Ecology and Evolution, St. Paul, MN, 7 April 2004.
Minnesota State Senate, Committee on Jobs, Energy and Community Development, Legislative Hearing on the impact of Climate Change on Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 25 Feb. 2004
Vegetation Management Association of Minnesota, VMAM/MACAI Annual Educational Workshop, Morris, MN, June 25, 2003.
University of Minnesota Extension, Woodland Advisor Program, Morris, MN, March 22, 2003.
Chippewa County Township Officers Annual Meeting, Montevideo, MN, March 17, 2003.
West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN, Feb. 7, 2003.
Biosphere II (Columbia University), Tucson, AZ, March 11, 2002.
St. Johns University, Collegeville, MN, November 5, 2001
Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, March 14, 2000.
Professional Meetings Attended
Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation: A Minnesota Response (invited participant), University of Minnesota, Twin Cities., June 2008
Ecological Society of America annual meetings: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1994.
Scientists, Economists and Clean Energy Experts workshop participant (sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists), St . Paul, MN, July 2007.
Renewable Energy in the Upper Midwest, Feb. 2005, University of North Dakota EERC, Grand Forks, ND
Weeds in the Landscape, Feb. 2003, The Nature Conservancy, Sibley State Park, MN.
Community Invasibility, May 2002, University of Minnesota Invasion Biology Research Consortium, St. Paul, MN.
Evolutionary Consequences of Invasions by Exotic Species, April 2002, Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications, University of MN, Minneapolis, MN.
Collegiate Town Meeting on Environmental Sustainability, October 1999, Duke University, Durham, NC
PATCH Model Workshop, July 1999, Pingree Park, CO (hosted by the National Center for Atmospheric Research).
US-International Association of Landscape Ecologists annual meeting, June 1997. Durham, NC.
DendroEcological Field Week, August 1996, Durham, NH (hosted by the University of Arizona Tree Ring Laboratory).
Tree migration workshop, July 1996, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, CA.
Grants Received
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BOWSR) contracted work. Monitoring of restored wetlands in West Central Minnesota (Summer 2009). Amount of contract: $19,587
Engaged Department Grant, UMM Environmental Studies (Spring 2009-2010). Community engagement for sustainable communities (with K. Mumford (head PI), A. Kildegaard, S. Breen, T. Goodnough, A. Manolis, D. Rosemeier, and D. Fluegel). Project budget: $8,985.
Educational Development Grant, University of MN, Morris. (Summer 2008). Designing the new Enst 2101: Environmental Biology. (With M. Kuchenreuther). Amount awarded: $2000
National Science Foundation (2007–2012). The UMM STEP Program: An Initiative to Encourage the Participation of Native Americans in the Sciences, NSF-DUE-0653063, (J. Alia, J. Cotter (Head PI), T. Pappenfus, T. Wyckoff, P. Wyckoff). Project Budget: $499,526
University of MN, Interdisciplinary International Research Circle Grants (2007). Recent and on-going environmental change in the Arctic. (K. Brugger , M. Kuchenreuther and P. Wyckoff). Amount awarded: $21,644
FREF Grant. (2007) Species-specific documentation of the west central Minnesota earthworm invasion. Amount Awarded: $579.
Competitive Single Semester Leave (Spring 2006)
Faculty Enrichment Project Grant, University of MN, Morris (Fall 2006). With J. Goodnough. Amount awarded: $500.
University of Minnesota, single semester leave (Spring 2006). This is a competitive leave program. I was one of 5 to receive the paid leave (out of 18 applicants)
US Department of Energy (Fall 2005). Biomass gasification: a comprehensive demonstration of a community-scale biomass energy project. (L. Rasmussen, Principal Director). Amount Requested: $1,893,428 (amount to P. Wyckoff is $4466).
Busch Foundation Technology Grant (Fall 2003). With T. Wyckoff. Amount awarded: $1200.
University of Minnesota Grant-in-Aid of Research (Spring 2002). Scope and impact of buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) invasion in forest stands in west central Minnesota. Amount awarded: $15,059.
Educational Development Grant, University of MN, Morris. (Spring 2002). Redesigning the gateway course for the Biology major. (With P. Myers and C. Cole). Amount awarded: $3000
Faculty Enrichment Project Grant, University of MN, Morris (Spring 2002). With J. Van Alstine. Amount awarded: $300.
Grant Proposals Submitted, Pending or Not Funded
National Science Foundation (Pending-Winter 2009). RUI: Life at the margins- impacts of climate change and herbivory on tree population dynamics at the prairie-forest ecotone (P. Wyckoff- PI, with J. HilleRisLambers). Amount requested: $189,782.
CFANS (Pending-Spring 2009). Working together for an environmentally friendly future (proposal to fund UMM student interns to work at the West Central Research and Outreach Station)( A. Rager, S. Poppe, E. Burkett, P.Wyckoff, K. Janni). Amount requested: $29,500.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute. (Not funded—Spring 2008). HHMI undergraduate science program (P. Wyckoff, Principle Director). Amount requested: $948,035.
National Science Foundation (Not funded—Summer 2006). RUI- Impacts of climate change and deer herbivory on tree survival and recruitment at the prairie-forest border (P. Wyckoff, Principal Investigator, with N. McPhee (UMM) and J. Clark (Duke University)). Amount requested: $295,524.
223 proposals were submitted, 8% were funded.
US Department of Energy National Institute for Climatic Change Research (Not funded—Spring 2006). Impacts of climate change on the prairie-forest border of Minnesota (P. Wyckoff, Principal Investigator, with N. McPhee). Amount requested: $316,315
253 proposals were submitted. My proposal was one of 93 that made it through the initial cut, 20 were funded.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute. (Not funded—Spring 2004). Expanding laboratory and research opportunities for biology majors at the University of Minnesota, Morris (P. Wyckoff, Principle Director). Amount requested: $1,274,578.
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Faculty interactive research program. (Not funded-Spring 2003). Predicting impacts and evaluating control methods for invasive buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) in Minnesota. Amount requested: $13,029.
Council on Undergraduate Research, Undergraduate summer research fellowship in science. (Not funded- Spring 2002). Extent and impact of buckthorn invasion into forest patches in west central MN. Amount requested: $4,500.
I have established long-term research plots at several sites in west central Minnesota, and my students and I collect data at these sites every summer. I am using these plots to monitor forest composition and tree growth, mortality and reproduction. The areas of emphasis in my local research are: 1) the impact of invasive buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) on forest composition, 2) the response of local trees to climate change, 3)the extent and impacts of invasive earthworms in regional forests, and 4) the impact of deer herbivory on tree recruitment.
SERVICE
Committees at University of Minnesota, Morris
Campus Resource and Planning Committee (CRPC) (Spring 2005-present)
CRPC Chair (Fall 2007-present)
Criterion Two: Preparing for the Future committee member, Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Report (2008-present)
Master Planning Steering Committee (Summer 2007-present)
Marketing/Market Research Steering Committee (Summer 2007-present)
National Scholarship Advisory Committee (Fall 2005)
UMM Strategic Planning Task Force (2005-2006)
Executive Committee (2004-2005)
International Programs (2003-2004)
Study Abroad Sub-committee (2003-2004)
Dean’s Grants Advisory Group (Fall 2003-Spring 2005)
Truman Fellowship Application Review Committee (Spring 2004-present)
UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium planning team member (Spring 2004-Fall 2005)
Work on behalf of advising and admissions
Faculty Representative, St. Cloud STEM Summit, 29 Jan. 2009
Arranged for students to represent UMM at Rochester STEM Summit and the Youth Energy Summit (Fall 2008)
Visit Day Panelist: 2008 (3), 2007 (2), 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003
Interviewer, “Community of Scholars” scholarship weekend: 2009, 2008, 2007
Faculty Seminar Speaker (TAFS), March 24, 2005—Topic: Helping students design areas of concentration at UMM (with Pareena Lawrence)
Contacted by (phone or e-mail) every admitted but not committed Biology applicant (April 2003, 2006, 2007) (with T. Wyckoff), 2008 (partial list)
Member, UMM Faculty Advising Group for Admissions (spring 2003- present)
Authored the first pre-nursing guide for UMM, Fall 2003 (revised 2005, 2007)
Authored the standardized “Area of Concentration in Environmental Studies” template for UMM, Spring 2004 (Revised 2007)
Faculty Representative, Admissions Eastcliff Open House, Minneapolis, MN, March 2008, Feb. 2005, 2006.
Faculty Representative, Admissions Booth, Twin Cities College Fair, Oct. 27-28, 2004.
Faculty Representative, Admissions Open House, Rochester, MN, Spring 2004
Summer registration: 2003, 2007
Other service at the University of Minnesota, Morris
Chair, Search Committee, Environmental Studies Social Science Tenure Track Line, Fall 2008 (search cancelled)
Chair, Search Committee, Biology Sabbatical Replacement, Spring 2008
Website developer, Environmental Studies Major, Spring 2008
Lead Facilitator and proposal author, Environmental Studies Major Working Group, Spring 2007-present.
Biology Discipline Coordinator: Fall 2003
Testified to the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, Minnesota State House, 31 January 2007. Subject: funding for the University of Minnesota.
Prepared nomination dossier for UMM faculty distinguished research award (nominee: Dr. Keith Brugger) 2006.
Convened a group of faculty to develop a proposal for a formalized environmental studies/science major at UMM, Fall 2005-Spring 2006.
Session facilitator, UMM Fall Faculty Retreat, 2005.
Second-string parliamentarian for UMM Campus assembly (Spring 2004-present)
Lead writer and proposed project coordinator for an invited grant designed to improve research equipment and student research opportunities in Biology. Grant submitted to Howard Hughes Medical Institute, October 2003, 2007.
Coordinator, Biology Discipline Senior Seminar Series, 2003-2004.
Faculty Seminar Speaker (TAFS), Feb. 6, 2003—Topic: My research.
Worked on a discipline committee to revise the curriculum for the introductory majors course (summer 2002, funded by an EDP grant)
Worked with T. Wyckoff on discipline assessment, designed and administered a senior survey for biology majors (spring 2002-present)
Coordinator and host (with T. Wyckoff) for biology senior reception (spring 2004-present)
University-wide service
Reviewed two project proposals on behalf of the College of Natural Resources, U of M, Twin Cities Campus (April 2005)
At Guilford College
Guilford College Benefits Committee, 2000-2001
Faculty Advisor, Guilford College Chapter of bbb (biological honor society) (1999-2001)
Faculty Advisor, Guilford Student Senate (2000-2001)
Professional Service Activities
Grant Proposal Reviewer, National Science Foundation, Biology- Ecological Biology Cluster (Sept. 2008)
Outside Reviewer for the PhD thesis of Jan Wunder, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, August 2007.
Grant Proposal Reviewer, US Department of Energy, National Institute for Climate Change Research (Jan. 2007).
Manuscript reviewed for Annals of Forest Science (2008)
Manuscript reviewed for Silva Fennica (2007)
Manuscript reviewed for Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society (2007)
Manuscripts reviewed for Journal of Ecology (2007 (3 articles), 2005, 2004 (three articles))
Manuscript reviewed for Oikos (2006)
Manuscripts reviewed for Canadian Journal of Forest Research (2006, 2005, 2002)
Manuscript reviewed for Journal of Vegetation Science (2005)
Manuscript reviewed for New Phytologist (2004)
Manuscripts reviewed for Ecology (2004, 2002, 1998, 1997)
Manuscript reviewed for Ecological Modeling (2003)
Manuscript reviewed for Ecological Monographs (2003)
Manuscript reviewed for American Midland Naturalist (2002)
Manuscript reviewed for Biological Invasions (1999)
Reviewed 3 chapters for “Biological Science” 4th edition (the General Biology text published by Prentice Hall) (2004)
Member, Board of Scientific Advisors, Highlands Biological Station, Highlands, NC (1999-2001)
Public Service Activities
Invited Speaker, Learning Unlimited, "Minnesota Climate Change in the Next 100 Years (20 January 2009)
Guest Lecture, Briggs Library “Asking the Big Questions” book club. Topic: Climate Change (9 Oct 2008)
Café Scientifique presentation, Common Cup Coffee Shop, Topic: Climate change and bur oak growth in west central Minnesota (1 April 2008)
Science Fair Judge, 7th and 9th grade, Morris Area High School (2008)
Invited Speaker, First Lutheran Church (Morris), Topic: Expected impacts of global warming on Minnesota (2 Nov. 2007)
Gave a lesson on biodiversity for all three of the Kindergarten classes at Morris Area Elementary school: May 2007.
Activity leader, Plan-it-green (PIG)- Saturday science/ sustainability activity for 5-6th graders (31 March 2007)
Invited Speaker, UMM MPIRG, topic: The IPCC Climate Change 2007 report (12 February 2007).
Interviewed for and quoted in “Climate change is a reality that can no longer be debunked- now what?” Morris Sun Tribune (10 February 2007).
Interviewed by KSAX TV for a story on mixed grasses and biofuels (27 Dec. 2006)
Invited Speaker, UMM Retirees Association. Title: Climate change and Minnesota (Fall 2006)
Commentary, Star and Tribune, Title: Cellulose beats corn as a source for ethanol (3 April 2006). Commentary reprinted with an additional note in the UMM University Register (7 September 2006).
Introduced children to the UMM biological collections: Morris ECFE (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005), Cyrus ECFE (2006), Morris Head Start (2006, 2005), Country Day Nursery School (2005, 2004)
Interviewed for and quoted in “Scientists: Minnesota weather to morph into Kansas—how fast is the question” The Pulse of the Twin Cities (11 November 2005)
Guest Editorial, Morris Sun Tribune, Title: Ethanol issues complex, but smarter fuel is a no-brainer. (17 August 2005).
Voted “Sexiest Male Professor” by readers of the University Register (Spring 2005). If that doesn’t qualify as public service, then what does?
Invited Speaker, UMM Arbor Fest (Spring 2004, 2005)
Coordinator, Morris Faculty Bowling League (Fall 2002)
Invited Speaker, Benson High School Career Day, Benson, MN (March 2002)
Invited Speaker, Lutheran Campus Ministries, Morris, MN, Topic: Why Christians should accept biological evolution. (February 2002)
Science Fair Judge, 4th and 5th grade division, Greensboro Public Schools, Greensboro, NC (2001)