My teaching responsibilities are extensive, reflecting my commitment to quality undergraduate teaching and mentoring. Geoscience is a fascinating subject and I love learning new things about our Earth all the time, and communicating my knowledge to students.

I teach required geoscience courses to undergraduates enrolled in Geological Sciences, Geological Engineering, and Mining Engineering, as well as a first year course that is taken by science, arts, and education students. Most of my classes have significant lab or field components or both, which is a reflection of the fact that the geosciences involve the hands-on study of Earth materials, structures, and processes. I am Head Advisor for Honours Geological Sciences students, as well as EOS Undergraduate Awards Officer.

Because my EOSC 221 course, Introduction to Petrology, is required of all students in Geological Sciences or Geological Engineering and it or a course like it is required of all geoscientists in British Columbia who seek professional registration, it was the first course web site developed in the department, and it contains extensive visual material as well as course information.

Term 1:

• EOSC 110: The Solid Earth - A Dynamic Planet - a survey course for majors and non-majors
• EOSC 324: Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology - a course for Mining Engineering students and Geological Engineering (with an applied geophysics interest) students.

Term 2:

• EOSC 221: Introduction to Petrology - required of all students in Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering (except those with an applied geophysics interest).
• EOSC 223: Introduction to Field Techniques - required of all students in Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

Outreach Activities

Geoscientists have an obligation to society, to use their education and talents to promote a better understanding of humankind`s interactions with the physical Earth, including the mitigation of geologic hazards and the dissemination of information on the pros and cons of resource and energy extraction.

Because I feel strongly about the value of geoscience education to society, I am involved in a wide variety of outreach activities, mostly during the summer when I am not so busy with UBC courses! These activities include volunteering in First Nations classrooms through Scientists and Innovators in the Schools, teaching K-12 teachers about geoscience through Science World`s Loon Lake Science Program, and acting as a resource person for the public regarding geoscience information.