Sheila K. Bennett, Ph.D.
Professor of Natural Science
Office: | 126 Jewett Hall |
|---|---|
Phone: | 621-3279 |
Fax: | 621-3293 |
Office hours: | Tuesday: 4:15 - 5:15pm |
E-mail: | sheilab@maine.edu |
Educational Background
B.S., University of Vermont, 1959
M.Ed., University of Maine, 1979
Ph.D., University of Maine, 1992
Teaching Philosophy
I like teaching at UMA because I have an opportunity to help students better understand our world through science. I think it is important for our graduates to have an understanding of science and its influence on society and the natural world in order to be responsible and reflective professionals. Teaching at a variety of levels in the science discipline is particularly rewarding. The challenges in teaching introductory science courses that meet the core curriculum are different from teaching the upper level biology courses for the BA in biology program.
No matter which level I encounter, I am continually impressed by how well students at UMA juggle a suite of responsibilities while maintaining outstanding grades. I had the good fortune to obtain an undergraduate education with only one extracurricular responsibility -- my laundry!
I am a proponent of life-long learning and I especially like the age diversity in our courses as the experiences associated with various ages add an important dynamic to the classroom. We all learn from the many different perspectives.
As one who began graduate school at age 50, I am familiar with the anxieties experienced when contemplating taking classes with students the age of my children. I was surprised to learn that I could draw on my life experiences and that my class contributions were respected. After spending several years researching lipid biochemical pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes as a way to understand mitochondrial evolution, I received a doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Maine.
Each fall semester I teach a lab science at a distance via ITV. It is a challenge, but also a significant opportunity to engage students around the state in understanding how science affects their lives and how to think about issues surrounding their health and the health of the environment. I have been fortunate to have a host of experts at UNET support this effort.
Besides my passion for science in the broadest sense, I advocate for wilderness preservation and have been recognized by The Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and RESTORE: The North Woods for leadership in this preservation effort.
As a way to continue to educate myself and ultimately my students about life on planet Earth, I was fortunate to receive of the Libra Professorship and Distinguished Scholar’s award in 1995. In 2002 I was pleased to receive the faculty award for Meritorious Achievement and in 2004 I was invited to give a Paul F-Brandwein Lecture at the annual conference of the National Science Teachers Association.