COURSES TAUGHT
GEOG 405 Geography Field Course: Watershed Science & Management
in the Coastal Pacific Northwest
This field course, developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and based in the Pacific Northwest (Squamish, BC), was first offered in summer 2018 and co-taught with Prof. Jim Best (UIUC Geography/Geology).
The course is interdisciplinary and integrates aspects of geomorphology, hydrology, sedimentology, ecology, and watershed management. It enables students to learn and develop practical skills through hands-on experience of designing and executing a research project, collecting data using cutting-edge equipment, analyzing data, and writing a technical report.
GEOG 459 Ecohydraulics:
Integrating Physical & Ecological Processes in Running Waters
In collaboration with Dr. Rafael Tinoco (UIUC Civil and Environmental Engineering), I co-developed and, since 2016 co-taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a course in Ecohydraulics. The course also covers topics that fall into the discipline of ecogeomorphology and river restoration.
This interdisciplinary course brings together students from various academic units/programs. It has two key components: lectures and research projects. Working in small groups of 3-5 members, students can choose to design and execute (under supervision of the instructors) a research project which addresses any of the topics covered in the course. Students are also free to choose between laboratory experiments (facilities: Hydrosystems Lab and Ecohydraulics and Ecomorphodynamics Lab), field work, mathematical modeling, or any combination of the above.
GEOG 103 Earth's Physical Systems
This is an introductory-level physical geography course at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (I have also taught an equivalent course at the University of British Columbia). It involves lectures and labs in which students can test their practical knowledge of the subject.
The course covers fundamental topics from geology, geomorphology, and hydrology. However, I link these topics extensively to environmental science and management issues (e.g. conservation, restoration, natural hazard assessment, etc). My goal in this course is to help students develop a basic understanding how Earth's physical systems operate but also how humans may alter these processes and how these processes can affect human societies.
A Perfect "Classroom"
Squamish, BC
Experiment Set-Up
Hydrosystems Lab
GEOG 220 Landscapes, Ecosystems,
& Environmental Change:
Science and Management
This new course, developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, integrates basic concepts from a wide range of disciplines, including physical geography (geomorphology, hydrology), ecology, environmental management, conservation and restoration ecology, and environmental studies.
The main objective of this course is to equip students with an understand of how science can guide sustainable management of landscapes and associated ecosystems in the era of rapid environmental change. It combined traditional lectures and discussions with small-group projects., which enable students to explore topics related to conservation, restoration, and natural hazards. We will survey a wide range of environments, including mountains, forest, rivers, and coastal zone and develop an understanding of how they have been transformed by changing climate and land use.
Environmental Management
