Science education is a central part of the Willette Lab of Applied Ecology. Through traditional classroom teaching, hosting summer intensive workshops, mentoring students in independent research projects, and engaging with community partners and local schools, we believe education is critical for finding solutions to current environmental challenges. Here are some of the projects we are working on.
COURSE OFFERINGS
Dr. Willette teaches courses in Introductory Biology, Introduction to Marine Science, General Ecology, Biostatistics, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Applied Plant Ecology, and Illegal Marine Fisheries.
Genotyping with 2bRAD Workshop
With collaborator and 2bRAD-seq developer Dr. Eli Meyer (Oregon State University), Dr. Willette runs a 9-day summer intensive workshop to train biologist with little or no Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) experience to prepare and analyze 2bRAD-seq samples for genetic analysis. Participants work with samples from their own study systems and shared samples for a group project. The workshop starts with raw genomic DNA in a tube, moves through library preparations, and concludes with data analysis using simple command line tools on a high-performance computing cluster. Held at the Wrigley Marine Science Center on beautiful Catalina Island, the workshop has brought together graduate students, post-docs, and faculty members from institutes and universities in Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2017 we’ve added an Amplicon Sequencing workshop lead by USC assistant professor Dr. Carly Kenkel.
With collaborator and 2bRAD-seq developer Dr. Eli Meyer (Oregon State University), Dr. Willette runs a 9-day summer intensive workshop to train biologist with little or no Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) experience to prepare and analyze 2bRAD-seq samples for genetic analysis. Participants work with samples from their own study systems and shared samples for a group project. The workshop starts with raw genomic DNA in a tube, moves through library preparations, and concludes with data analysis using simple command line tools on a high-performance computing cluster. Held at the Wrigley Marine Science Center on beautiful Catalina Island, the workshop has brought together graduate students, post-docs, and faculty members from institutes and universities in Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2017 we’ve added an Amplicon Sequencing workshop lead by USC assistant professor Dr. Carly Kenkel.
Leveraging Actionable Science to Combat Illegal Fishing Initiative
The United States is the world’s largest fish importer. Recent reports, however, indicate that 25-30% of wild-caught seafood imported into the US is illegally caught, heightening concerns over the country’s significant role in driving the global challenge of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This multi-nation project aims to 1) foster scientific collaboration among scientists, implementers and fishery stakeholders to promote evidence-based decision making with cutting-edge technology; and 2) use education to increase awareness and training in how to engage in applied conservation research. The initiative recently supported the first LMU-UCLA Seafood Traceability Forum on LMU’s campus in April 2017, and is integrated into Dr. Willette’s current Fulbright project that teams up scientists, students, and stakeholders from the Pacific nations of the Philippines, Ecuador, Thailand, and the United States.
The United States is the world’s largest fish importer. Recent reports, however, indicate that 25-30% of wild-caught seafood imported into the US is illegally caught, heightening concerns over the country’s significant role in driving the global challenge of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This multi-nation project aims to 1) foster scientific collaboration among scientists, implementers and fishery stakeholders to promote evidence-based decision making with cutting-edge technology; and 2) use education to increase awareness and training in how to engage in applied conservation research. The initiative recently supported the first LMU-UCLA Seafood Traceability Forum on LMU’s campus in April 2017, and is integrated into Dr. Willette’s current Fulbright project that teams up scientists, students, and stakeholders from the Pacific nations of the Philippines, Ecuador, Thailand, and the United States.
Student Mentoring
During a recent visit to LMU, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon tasked students in the audience to not wait to be the leaders of tomorrow, but rather, given the world’s urgent needs, become the leaders of today. We take this task to heart in our lab. Our lab is made-up of a promising team of LMU undergraduate students (see People for their bios) who conduct original research, actively participate in field work, present at scientific conferences, and are working on peer-reviewed scientific papers. In addition to some lab members receiving university independent research credit, some are supported by LMU’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) and First-Year Experience (FYI).
During a recent visit to LMU, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon tasked students in the audience to not wait to be the leaders of tomorrow, but rather, given the world’s urgent needs, become the leaders of today. We take this task to heart in our lab. Our lab is made-up of a promising team of LMU undergraduate students (see People for their bios) who conduct original research, actively participate in field work, present at scientific conferences, and are working on peer-reviewed scientific papers. In addition to some lab members receiving university independent research credit, some are supported by LMU’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) and First-Year Experience (FYI).
Community Engagement
It is essential for education to extend beyond the classroom and into our community. Our lab is enthusiastic about engaging with the community and is currently collaborating with LAUSD Woodrow Wilson High School’s Environmental Academy, the non-profit NorthEast Trees, and the Ascot Hills Park Advisory Board in projects at the Ascot Hills Park, Los Angeles’s newest urban park. In partnership with the U.S. National Park Service, we also run www.invasiveseagrass.org, a citizen-science project to raise awareness and track the spread of the invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea in the Caribbean Sea.
It is essential for education to extend beyond the classroom and into our community. Our lab is enthusiastic about engaging with the community and is currently collaborating with LAUSD Woodrow Wilson High School’s Environmental Academy, the non-profit NorthEast Trees, and the Ascot Hills Park Advisory Board in projects at the Ascot Hills Park, Los Angeles’s newest urban park. In partnership with the U.S. National Park Service, we also run www.invasiveseagrass.org, a citizen-science project to raise awareness and track the spread of the invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea in the Caribbean Sea.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, Los Angeles, CA
Biol 360: General Ecology, Instructor of Record. Ecology is the study of organisms in relation to each other and their surrounding environment. Students of ecology seek to understand the life history of organisms, how organisms are distributed both spatially and temporally, how like and distinct organisms interact, compete and depend upon one another to survive, and how the environment influences these processes, as well as the evolution of organisms. Further, given our substantial footprint on the planet, humans have come to play a varying role in many of these processes through things such as biodiversity loss, land transformation, and climate change. Because of the complexity of the field, ecology is multidisciplinary and ecological theory is highly synthetic, putting together knowledge from many other disciplines to formulate ecological explanations. Ecological research draws upon statistics, behavioral science, physiology, genetics, and even physics to describe the structure and function of individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
Biol 100A: Introduction to Biology, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 100C: Animal/Plant Anatomy and Physiology, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 155: Animal Biology, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 200A: Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 200B: Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 300: Marine Biological Processes, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 320: Writing for Ecologists, Adjunct faculty.
Biol 300: Biometrics, Instructor of Record. This course serves as an introduction to statistics for biology students. Biology students will utilize statistics throughout their academic track while at CSULA and a solid understanding of what statistics are and how to appropriately apply them will be of great value in upper division courses. Here, we will take a gradual, step-by-step approach to learning and practicing simple statistical methods. Emphasis will be placed on descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and the use of statistics for experimental design. Weekly assignments and laboratory activities will complement lectures. Exams, homework and lab assignments will all be used to assess your understanding of statistical concepts and your ability to apply statistical analyses to experimental data
Honors 331: Global Climate Change, Instructor of Record. This course examines the major transformations occurring on the Earth due to global climate change, the causes of these transformations (both anthropogenic and natural), and the foreseeable consequences for Earth’s ecological environments. The course will discuss climate change in the context of fisheries, agriculture, terrestrial ecosystems, marine ecosystems, biodiversity, trophic food webs and productivity, and sustainability. A central theme in this course will be how to evaluate the validity of scientific claims for both policy decisions and informing the global citizen. Students will develop evaluating skills through in-class activities and group assignments. Students will demonstrate this understanding by planning, creating and producing a short 4-6 minute documentary film on a course topic, with a focus on Southern California.
Biol 100A: Introduction to Biology, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 100C: Animal/Plant Anatomy and Physiology, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 155: Animal Biology, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 200A: Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 200B: Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 300: Marine Biological Processes, Teaching Fellow.
Biol 320: Writing for Ecologists, Adjunct faculty.
Biol 300: Biometrics, Instructor of Record. This course serves as an introduction to statistics for biology students. Biology students will utilize statistics throughout their academic track while at CSULA and a solid understanding of what statistics are and how to appropriately apply them will be of great value in upper division courses. Here, we will take a gradual, step-by-step approach to learning and practicing simple statistical methods. Emphasis will be placed on descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and the use of statistics for experimental design. Weekly assignments and laboratory activities will complement lectures. Exams, homework and lab assignments will all be used to assess your understanding of statistical concepts and your ability to apply statistical analyses to experimental data
Honors 331: Global Climate Change, Instructor of Record. This course examines the major transformations occurring on the Earth due to global climate change, the causes of these transformations (both anthropogenic and natural), and the foreseeable consequences for Earth’s ecological environments. The course will discuss climate change in the context of fisheries, agriculture, terrestrial ecosystems, marine ecosystems, biodiversity, trophic food webs and productivity, and sustainability. A central theme in this course will be how to evaluate the validity of scientific claims for both policy decisions and informing the global citizen. Students will develop evaluating skills through in-class activities and group assignments. Students will demonstrate this understanding by planning, creating and producing a short 4-6 minute documentary film on a course topic, with a focus on Southern California.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, CA
M1W: Global Environment Cluster, Instructor of Record. In this course, we will explore and discover the different ways in which our world’s oceans are responsing to us, the human element. Topics we will research and discuss including overfishing, marine sources of energy, tourism, coastal development, and plastics at sea. We’ll also learn about organizations dedicated restoring and protecting the oceans. Lectures will be supplemented by video documentaries, peer presentations, and several field trips to our nearby coastal ecosystems.M1W Seminar: The Ocean’s Response to the Human Element
EEB 101: Aquatic Botany, Teaching Fellow.
EEB 109: Introduction to Marine Science, Instructor of Record. This course is designed to provide an introduction to the physical and biological world that covers 70% of our planet: the oceans. This course is designed to be integrative; focusing on the geological evolution of seas, the physical and chemical properties of water, and how these abiotic processes shape environments and the ecology and evolution of marine organisms
EEB 101: Aquatic Botany, Teaching Fellow.
EEB 109: Introduction to Marine Science, Instructor of Record. This course is designed to provide an introduction to the physical and biological world that covers 70% of our planet: the oceans. This course is designed to be integrative; focusing on the geological evolution of seas, the physical and chemical properties of water, and how these abiotic processes shape environments and the ecology and evolution of marine organisms
INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MARINE ECOLOGY , Dominica
AC 301: Natural History & Identification of Marine Organisms, Instructor of Record. Natural History and Identification of Marine Organisms covers functional morphology, behavior, and identification of organisms from tropical marine habitats. Emphasis is placed on marine vascular plants, benthic and pelagic inshore macro-fauna and flora. Some planktonic and interstitial microorganisms will also be examined. Students apply basic methods/techniques of field observation, data collection, and record keeping, in an inquiry-driven approach to marine field-biology, specifically to habitat descriptions.
AC 303: Marine Research Methodology and Practicum, Instructor of Record. This course introduces students to project design, proposal writing, sampling techniques, data collection, data analysis and scientific writing. Students develop and carry out independent research projects and participate in ongoing research in conjunction with their regular course work.
AC 305: Tropical Marine Ecology & Conservation, Instructor of Record. Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation analyzes the relationship between marine ecology and resource management. The ecology of marine ecosystems forms the foundation for an interdisciplinary examination of coastal conservation issues in the Caribbean. Economic and social requirements for environmental conservation will be introduced to the students, who then outline potential conservation strategies. Extensive field surveys provide students with an experiential approach to marine biology. Organized interactions with people dependent on marine resources enhance the student's exposure to issues of marine conservation.
AC 303: Marine Research Methodology and Practicum, Instructor of Record. This course introduces students to project design, proposal writing, sampling techniques, data collection, data analysis and scientific writing. Students develop and carry out independent research projects and participate in ongoing research in conjunction with their regular course work.
AC 305: Tropical Marine Ecology & Conservation, Instructor of Record. Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation analyzes the relationship between marine ecology and resource management. The ecology of marine ecosystems forms the foundation for an interdisciplinary examination of coastal conservation issues in the Caribbean. Economic and social requirements for environmental conservation will be introduced to the students, who then outline potential conservation strategies. Extensive field surveys provide students with an experiential approach to marine biology. Organized interactions with people dependent on marine resources enhance the student's exposure to issues of marine conservation.
SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL & MARINE SCIENCE, Philippines
NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY, Vietnam
PRINCE OF SONGKLA, Thailand
INDONESIAN BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER, Indonesia
Marine Molecular Ecology, Instructor of Record. Molecular ecology, as taught here, merges the fields of molecular genetics, population genetics, systematics, and ecology to examine evolutionary patterns and origins of organisms from the cellular level. This course will provide you with training in the theory and techniques of molecular ecology. The course begins a lecture series on molecular genetics theory, as well as introductory lectures on oceanography, larval dispersal, and Next Generation Sequencing. Next, time will be spent learning and training in the actual laboratory for conducting marine molecular ecology research. Laboratory training will be hands-on and participants will work in small groups to complete a phylogeography pilot study on a marine species of interest.
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY, Los Angeles, CA
HHSC 150: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Instructor of Record. This course provides an introductory knowledge of the development, structure and function of the human body with an emphasis on how the body works across organ systems to maintain homeostasis. Additionally, the course will introduce the Scientific Method with a culminating term project using this approach.