I also write fiction and creative non-fiction. At UC Davis, I took the core set of Masters classes in creative writing while working on my Ph.D. in ecology. In 2005 I was awarded the Tomales Bay Fellowship for best fiction to attend the Tomales Bay Writer’s Workshop.
 
I incorporate my passion for writing into my teaching. Students in the sciences often have ample practice expressing their thoughts to an audience of other scientists, but rarely are they asked to express themselves to a general audience. I ask students to keep journals, to practice explaining scientific concepts in simple terms, and to relate their personal experiences to broader issues. Given a little latitude and encouragements, students often produce very creative and insightful pieces!
 
Creative Writing