The SJC gang

My colleague, Nancy, from St. John's College in Belize City, where I taught last semester during my sabbatical, recently sent this pic of most of the Science and Math Department at the annual faculty Christmas party.  From left to right: Kristoff Edwards (Math), Irma Briceno (Math), Nancy Gomez (Biology), me (Biology), Amir Juarez (Math), and Nerissa Guerra (Biology).  What a brilliant and kind group of academics. I miss them so much!

Evolution Blogs and KC Star article

I'm so proud of my classes!  Please check out the Evolution class's service-learning blogs (linked below) and the Kansas City Star article that features my Cell Basis class.

Back home from Belize

As of last Saturday, I am back from my sabbatical in Belize (the neighborhood where I lived in Belize City is pictured below).  The last six months there were life-changing and paradoxical, as there were some extreme ups and extreme downs during that time.  I hope to write more a more elaborate account of my time there and give a few presentations, but for now I'm just relieved to be at my home base in KC and back to Rockhurst.  We started classes Tuesday, and it's been great to get back into the swing of things and see all of the students and colleagues I've missed.  It is, however, way too cold here for my taste. :)

Ecology Field Trip

Today, Ms. Godoy and I, along with our awesome Lab Manager, Rasheed (in the white shirt, below), took 30 Ecology students to Guanacaste National Park in Belmopan, Belize.  They were able to study the flora and fauna of rainforest and riparian ecosystems, starting with some Emballonurid (sac-winged) bats that were roosting in one of the picnic shelters.  On the trail they observed forest zonation, epiphytes, and various species of medicinal plants.  They then collected soil and water samples and analyzed them on site (pictured).  The only issue was that the bus repeatedly overheated on the way home due to a hole in the radiator hose, but our trusty driver just pulled over and added water (below) as needed. It was a fun and productive day, and I hope the students thought so too!

Xunantunich

As of this weekend, I have now visited the Holy Trinity of Belize Mayan ruins, as depicted on the back of the $2 bill (pictured below).  The holiday weekend, which celebrated Belize's Independence Day, also marked my first real trip to Guatemala and another enjoyable time in San Ignacio.

Goff's Caye

Today was St. George's Caye (pronounced "key" - one of the barrier islands off the coast of Belize), which is a federal holiday in Belize.  Since we had the day off, we (a few faculty and about 70 St. John's College students) took a trip to Goff's Caye, a tiny, private island.  My view, when I wasn't in the water looking at reef fish, is above.

A few fun pic's from last weekend

Usually the only pictures in which I am featured are those where I am using some part of my body for scale (see "Enormous Fungus," "Giant Cane Toad," and "Yummy Vegan Meal" below), but I agreed to be in the last pic with an old friend (Richard, far right) and two new friends I met in Belize (Nuria and Ahmed).  This picture was taken at a place called Pier One, out on a pier in the Caribbean, in the dark because the electricity had gone out.  All we could hear was each other and the waves crashing next to us.  Great night.