Note to editor: Interviews are available by contacting either Dr. Bill Moore at (313) 577-2934 or Dr. Leslie Mertz at (989) 422-6536.
In its fullest schedule ever, the Fish Lake Biology Program is inviting students as well as in-service teachers from throughout the southeastern Michigan area to get back to nature during one or more of its three-week courses.
"Time and time again, students describe the courses of the Fish Lake Biological Program as the best learning experiences of their educational careers," said Dr. William S. Moore, biology professor and director of the program. Students particularly enjoy the many hours spent outdoors exploring firsthand the thousands of acres of forests, meadows, marshes and lakes on the station property and in the surrounding state lands.
Each of the 11 courses this summer run three days a week for three consecutive weeks, and offer between two and four credits toward undergraduate and graduate biology degrees. Students can also enroll for additional credits through directed studies. The courses, which focus on the ecology of Michigan plants and animals, are held at a field station on Fish Lake in Lapeer County (62miles north of Wayne State). Students either commute daily, or stay in an affordable dorm at the field station.
WSU students can sign up for all Fish Lake courses through the normal registration process. Non-WSU students can also easily enroll via several methods.
The first session, June 3-22, offers three courses. The Ornithology course focuses on Michigan birds, while the Herpetology course highlights frogs, salamanders, lizards, turtles and snakes. The Herpetology course also features several field trips to sites of special interest where students can find some less-common amphibians and reptiles. The third course, Research: Biota Survey, is actually offered all three sessions. For this course, students assist with a computer-based scientific survey of different organisms at or near the Fish Lake property. Ultimately, the survey will provide an overview of the organisms in this rich biological habitat.
In the second session, June 24-July 13, students can choose from five courses, including Research: Biota Survey. Systematic Botany covers wildflowers and other plants, and Mammalogy invites students to learn more about Earth's furry inhabitants. The second session also offers two newer courses: Introduction to Field Biology and Biology for Teachers. Introduction to Field Biology is an expansive course that introduces students to the plants and animals of Michigan and the methods used by field biologists to study them. Students in this class try out field-study techniques; discover the names (and often the medicinal and other uses) of different trees, shrubs and wildflowers; and learn about the diverse animal life that abounds in the area.
"Biology for Teachers is specially designed for in-service teachers and education students, and provides a wealth of activities, outdoor field experiences and lecture material that easily translate to the teacher's own classroom program," said Dr. Leslie Mertz, the course instructor. "The outdoor component, a major portion of this course, introduces the many, many plants and animals living here in Michigan that illustrate basic biological concepts and give life to topics covered in textbooks." The course also describes various educational resources that are available - often free of charge or at very little expense- in the metropolitan Detroit area.
The third session, July 15- August 3, includes three courses: Invertebrate Natural History, which presents the ecology of the insects, spiders and other animals that lack backbones; Michigan Natural History, which will include a field trip to the breathtaking Isle Royale National Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula; and Research: Biota Survey.
In addition, students can sign up for one- to three-credit Directed Studies to conduct their own research at the station. Faculty members are available to help the students select a topic, conduct the research and present their results.
Moore remarked, "I think we have put together an excellent program for this summer, and I invite all Wayne State students to come out to Fish Lake and experience it for themselves."
Information about the Fish Lake Biological Program and non-student registration is available by contacting:
William S. Moore, Ph.D., Director
2123 Biological Sciences Bldg.
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-2934
wmoore@biology.biosci.wayne.edu
web address: bio.wayne.edu/fishlake/fishlakeprogram.html.
Specific information about Biology for Teachers, Introduction to Field Biology or Herpetology is available by contacting Leslie Mertz, Ph.D., at LMERTZ@nasw.org
Fish Lake Biological Program
Summer 2002 Courses
Wayne State University
Session 1 (June 3-June 22)
Ornithology (birds) - BIO 5720/8000, 3 hrs., M, T, W
Dr. William S. Moore
Herpetology (amphibians and reptiles) - BIO 5180/8000, 3 hrs., Th, F, S
Dr. Leslie Mertz
Research: Biota Survey (birds) - BIO 5180/8000) 2 hrs., Th, F
Dr. William S. Moore
Session 2 (June 24-July 13)
Systematic Botany (plants) - BIO 5550/8000, 3 hrs., M, T, W
Dr. Gary Hannan
Mammalogy (mammals) - BIO 5730/8000 4 hrs., Th, F, S
Dr. Hezy Shoshani
Biology for Teachers (for education students and in-service teachers) -BIO 5180/8000, 3 hrs., M, T, W
Dr. Leslie Mertz
Introduction to Field Biology (plants and animals) - BIO 5180, 3 hrs., Th, F, S
Dr. Leslie Mertz
Research: Biota Survey (mammals) - BIO 5180/8000, 2 hrs., T, W
Dr. William S. Moore
Session 3 (July 15-August 3)
Michigan Natural History - BIO 5180/8000, 3 hrs., M, T, W
Dr. Hezy Shoshani (WSU)
Invertebrate Natural History (including insects) - BIO 5180/8000, 3 hrs., Th, F, S Michael Kielb (EMU)
Research: Biota Survey (invertebrates) - BIO 5180/8000, 2 hrs., T, W
Dr. William S. Moore (WSU)