|
ResearchTeachingScience EducationBiographical
Info Music
"The creation of wealth is certainly not to be despised, but in the long run the only human activities really worthwhile are the search for knowledge and the creation of beauty" (Arthur C. Clarke, 1962).
In the Paleobotanical Laboratory at Weston Observatory we are investigating the origin and early evolution of land plants. Emphasis is on the collection and description of early land plant fossil remains. These include microscopic spores and cryptospores, in addition to problematic macrophytes, such as Nematothallus and other interesting plant-like fragments. Current projects include field work in Cambrian strata in the southern Appalachians, Wisconsin and elsewhere in Central North America in addtion to Precambrian fieldwork in Utah, Michigan and Scotland beginning spring of 2008. Other projects include:
Please go to the Weston Paleobotanical LaboratoryPaleobotanical Laboratory website or, even better, Palaeobotany Laboratory Research Resource Pages for further information about our research activities. If you are a prospective student, you get a better feel for what we do at that site.
In addition to field work and classical taxonomic and systematic work, the research at Boston College involves innovative approaches to microscopy. The setup includes both B&W and color digital cameras fed into a Macintosh computer. Current projects inlude basic shape analysis of fossil spores and analysis of palynomorphs in infrared light.
I teach a science core course at Boston College during the fall semester - GE 146 : Origins and Evolution of Life on Planet Earth. This is an introductory science course using the scientific study of the origins of life as a central point from which to examine science as a process. The interdisciplinary curriculum touches on biology &biochemistry, geology &paleontology, a bit of physics and astronomy - students get to see how basic science background is used across disciplines. We examine the different hypotheses on life origins, starting with the theories of A. I. Oparin and continuing on with the Miler Urey experiments and more recent studies in RNA-based enzymes and chemical evolution. The origin of life is presented not as an event dividing the physical and biological worlds, but as a natural component of the evolution of our planet.
In the fall of 2007, I will be also be teaching GE 330, Paleontology. Also, it seems likely that this course will begin alternating with an advanced paleontology course, Paleobotany and Palynology beginning in the fall of 2008.
I served as webmaster for the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists AASP, www.palynology.org, for a number of years. This organization, founded in 1967, publishes the journal Palynology and functions to promote the science of palynology. I also managed software development for two NSF-funded science education projects during the late 1990s: WhaleNet, and the Princeton Earth Physics Project ( PEPP ).
Publication list Resumé request Academic CV request
Contact Information
"Life without music is stupid." Nietzsche
"Only sick music makes money today." Nietzsche
"Nietzsche was stupid and abnormal." Tolstoy
My music links are now found at Lagado. I play bass in a local 60's rock band called the Reverberators. They play every third Saturday (5 - 7) at Sally O'Briens in Union Square Somerville. Also in an old-time band called Jubilee Mule at the Cantab every third Tuesday. My own band, mr talliman, is just getting going in 2007. We play occasional Thursdays at Sally O'Briens in Union Square Somerville. Also, The Chicken Chokers: Are alive and well - and with a new cd for sale! More info on myspace.
The last days of Twang. How good were they? We'll just never know, but listen to this version of Spider John Koerner's Skipper and his wife to get a taste.
Update: 10 August 2007.