|
|
People
Science Happens When We Work Together
Principle Investigator: Ken Dunton [Show Details]
 |
Dr. Ken Dunton is a professor in marine science at the UT Marine Science Institute. Research conducted by Ken and his students range from the study of trophic
(food web) relationships in kelp beds, seagrass communities, marshes, and coral reefs to the impacts of climate change in high arctic ecosystems. Consequently
his work has carried him as far north as the Canadian Arctic Islands (74 N), to the Antarctic Peninsula (65 S). An active diver, Ken has logged thousands of
under ice dives in the Arctic and Antarctic to study benthic plant communities. He holds a private pilot's license and flies frequently in support of his Gulf coast
remote sensing research of seagrass beds and marsh systems. Ken received a BS in Biology from the University of Maine at Orono in 1975, his MS from Western Washington University
in Bellingham in 1977, and his Ph.D. at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks in 1985.
|
Program Coordinator: Flora Buerger [Show Details]
 |
Flora Buerger graduated from Southwest Texas State University (Texas State) with a B.S in Geography-Resource & Environmental Studies and a M.S. in Secondary Education from
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Flora taught high school World Geography and has worked as an informal educator in environmental science. As Program Coordinator, she works closely with the
GK-12 Fellows, Teachers and PI, and she also coordinates the GK-12 Summer Field Science Program for children in grades 3-8.
|
2010 Fellows
Colbi Brown [Show Details]
 |
Colbi Brown graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Growing up she was always fascinated by the ocean. On a trip to the
Galapagos Islands, she was introduced to the world of plankton and this is what led her to pursue a research involving phytoplankton species. Her research studies a symbiosis between a diatom host
and a cyanobacteria symbiont. The symbiont is capable of atmospheric nitrogen fixation and can provide this nutrient to the host. Colbi works on the nutrient dynamics (specifically phosphorous and
B vitamins) of this symbiosis in order to better understand these organisms ecology and physiology. She is super excited to be involved in the GK-12 program and is looking forward to further
developing her teaching skills!
|
Nathan McTigue [Show Details]
 |
Upon graduating with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Georgia, Nathan McTigue worked on a marsh ecology project on Sapelo
Island, Georgia. Soon afterwards he began working at the Austin Nature and Science Center in Austin, Texas where he found a knack for science education and outreach.
He delighted in teaching children about science and opening their minds to the natural world around them. During that time, he was accepted as a PhD candidate in Marine Sciences at UTMSI.
In his first year, Nathan found that teaching undergraduates was as rewarding as working at ANSC, either teaching the lab components or assisting in Introduction to Oceanography, Marine Ecology,
and Marine Botany, a study abroad class in Puerto Rico. Now entering his second year, he will continue summer research in the Alaskan Arctic on carbon cycling and trophic interactions while
beginning his GK-12 fellowship in the fall in a 5th and 8th grade classroom. Nathan’s favorite things to do are biking, hiking, and skiing.
|
Avier Montalvo [Show Details]
 |
Avier Montalvo was born and raised in Port Lavaca, Texas. He has lived on or very close to the ocean his entire life. Faced with having to choose between his two passions,
the ocean and music, he first decided to pursue a degree in music at Texas State University. A few years later, he decided to keep music as a hobby and began to study marine biology; however, he was
forced to transfer to a different university as that major was being phased out of his current university. This path led him to Texas A&M University – Galveston where he graduated in 2007 with a degree
in Marine Fisheries Biology. Avier is thrilled to be a GK-12 fellow, and hopes he can help instill the importance of protecting and preserving the ocean and all marine life to others. He is currently
pursuing a Master’s Degree in Marine Science. His research will center on global climate change and it’s potential effects on commercially important species such as Southern flounder, and the conservation
and culture of ornamental species.
|
Sarah Wallace [Show Details]
 |
Sarah Wallace is a second-year master’s student at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Originally from northern California, she got her undergraduate degree in
biology from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, where she studied the amphibian organ regeneration. At UTMSI, she is investigating the impacts of long-term wastewater diversion on food web structure
in the Nueces marsh. Sarah is looking forward to involving students in hands-on science adventures, and for sharing her enthusiasm for the subject with both students and teachers.
|
Chris Wilson [Show Details]
 |
Christopher Wilson is very excited about becoming a GK-12 fellow. He first became interested in science during high school when he attended the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental
Science in Ocean County New Jersey. Christopher pursued his interests at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where he obtained Bachelor of Science degrees in Marine Biology and
Environmental Science as well as a minor in Mathematics. During his time as an undergraduate, Christopher worked on diamondback terrapins with Drexel University, on coral reefs with the School
for Field Studies, and on the North Carolina coast with the benthic ecology laboratory at UNCW. Christopher is now entering his second year of graduate school pursuing a Masters Degree in Marine Science.
His research currently involves examining the bioacoustic signature of subtropical seagrasses and his graduate teaching experience includes the laboratory components of Introduction to
Oceanography and Estuarine Ecology.
|
Teachers
Kay Blaha [Show Details]
 |
Kay is a 6th grade science teacher at Rockport Fulton Middle School. She studied geology at UT-Dallas and worked in the
oil industry for 15 years. Later she returned to school and received her B.S. in Animal Science from Texas A&M. She managed a horse ranch for a short
time before going into the teaching profession. Kay’s husband, John works for CCA-Texas and they have an 8 yr old daughter, Aransas. Kay likes gardening,
wade fishing, and surfing with her daughter.
|
Julie Findley [Show Details]
 |
Julie Findley has taught elementary school for 20 years, and is starting her 18th year of teaching 5th grade science. Although
originally from Dallas, she has visited Port Aransas since she was a little girl, and has lived here full time since 1977. She worked for the National
Marine Fisheries Service and at the U.T. Marine Science Institute at various times before becoming a teacher. She is married to Captain Butch Findley,
a fishing guide, and they have one daughter, Kate, who presently lives in Los Angeles. She enjoys birding, running on the beach, gardening,
and reading. Her favorite place to visit is Costa Rica.
|
Susan Gowans[Show Details]
 |
Susan Gowens teaches Science to 5th graders at Flour Bluff Intermediate School. She has been working with children for over 28 years.
She has worked for FBISD for 12 years. Ms. Gowens graduated from high school in Melbourne, Australia. She then returned to Texas to work on a degree in education.
She received a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in reading in 1989. She graduated with honors from CCSU. (Corpus Christi State University)
Ms. Gowens has received many grants and awards during her career. She was recognized as Elementary Teacher of the Year at FBISD for the 2006-2007 school year.
She went on to win Region II Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the Texas Teacher of the Year. Ms. Gowens has worked along side other professionals
in Austin to create new tests for pre-service teachers. She has received thousands of dollars in grant monies. The Blooming Scientist Grant helped supply
primary grade students with over $3000 worth of science equipment. The Close-up and Personal Grant allowed for two mobile labs for 5th graders at FB Intermediate.
Ms. Gowens is passionate about helping every child be successful. She is not only active in public schools but works with children through her church.
She has been to Mexico many times to work with children, build a school, and help doctors at a free clinic. She continues to find ways to involve parents
and the community in the lives of all children. Ms. Gowens knows that it “takes a village” to raise a child and she is willing to go that extra mile for all children!
|
Shawn Kendrick [Show Details]
 |
Shawn is a 5th grade science and social studies teacher with Aransas County I.S.D. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with an emphasis
on History from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She presently teaches and serves as Social Studies Subject Area Coordinator for Fulton 4-5 Learning Center.
Shawn was honored as a WalMart Teacher of the Year in 2005, and is a participant in the three-year American History Grant professional development program through ESC2.
She was the 2008 recipient of a San Patricio Soil & Conservation Grant, as well as three ACISD Education Foundation Grants in 2004, 2005, and 2006. She currently
co-sponsors the Fulton 4-5 Farmer’s Market Experience where students combine their science skills with their knowledge of the free enterprise system to raise and
sell chickens, guineas, ducks, baked goods and other student made items at the Fulton Farmer’s Market.
|
Isabel Lawrence [Show Details]
 |
A native of Jerez, Spain, Isabel has a Bachelor in Business Management from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio and a Masters
degree in Science with a major in counseling studies and Human Services from Capella University Mn. She has been teaching for the past 4 years in Aransas Pass ISD at
the Charlie Marshall Elementary School. She has a bilingual ESL certification and is currently teaching 6th grade Math and Science. She also teaches English at night,
once a week, for beginners and intermediate levels to parents with kids in the district who only speak Spanish in an effort to help them communicate better with the
schools and in their lives in general.
|
Matt Papenfuss [Show Details]
 |
Matthew Papenfuss is a 7th & 8th Grade Science teacher at Flour Bluff Junior High in Corpus Christi, Tx. Using the coastal backdrop for teaching,
Matthew is able to engage his classes on the environment and the local ecosystems when teaching. He believes that by focusing on the local environment students will be
able to focus on the world out their backdoors. He is an avid surfer and traveler; with trips to South Africa, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Europe; he hopes to bring
the world into the classroom. The GK-12 program is the catalyst to opening the eyes of his students.
|
Past Teachers, Graduate Fellows, and Mentors
|
|
|
|
|
