Doing Biology
Joel B. Hagenreceived his B.A. degree in Natural Science/Government from St. John's University, his M.S. in Biological Science from Oregon State University; and his Ph.D. in Biological Science from Oregon State University. For the past fifteen years he has taught biology and history of science at Yankton College, the University of Maryland, and Radford University. He currently teaches introductory courses in botany and general biology for both majors and non-majors at Radford University. Hagen also teaches specialty seminars in bioethics and social issues in biology.His research deals with the history of twentieth-century biology, particularly the history of ecology and evolutionary biology. Before joining the faculty at Radford University, he held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution where he conducted research on the origins of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the history of tropical biology in Central America. As a professional educator, Hagen is particularly interested in teaching biology as a process, in both its scientific and social dimensions.Douglas Allchinreceived his Ph.D. in history and philosophy of science from the University of Chicago in 1991. He builds on a background in evolutionary ecology, with field experience from Panama to the Rocky Mountains. He now teaches biology at the University of Texas at El Paso. In his research, he focuses on how scientists address error and resolve disagreement — from the controversy over chemiosmotic theory to the reception of acupuncture in the U.S. He carries his expertise into science education, speaking here and abroad on using history to teach science, coordinating a national network of teachers interested in such approaches, and serving on the editorial board of Science & Education. Outside academics Mr. Allchin hikes, photographs lichens, and enjoys the tradition of having tea.Fred Singerearned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Minnesota. He teaches at Radford University. He studies the relationship between ecology and animal behavior. For the past eight years he has been conducting field research on the behavioral ecology of funnel-web spiders in Arizona and New Mexico. After the field season, offspring of the spiders are brought to the lab and questions of ecology, behavior, and evolution are investigated.Fred lives with his wife, Cindy, and teenage children Jed and Alison. He enjoys long-line sampling of fish species in the New River Valley of Virginia and is trying to assess the relationship between various forms of feathers and lures and fish response rate.