WENDEE HOLTCAMP  ~ SCIENTIST * WRITER * EDUCATOR

http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com ~281-798-8417
bohemian@wendeeholtcamp.com
~**~**~**~**~

 

EDUCATION

 

Ph.D.candidate, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Rice University, May 2003-present
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship               
Conservation Genetics Workshop, NCI Laboratory for Genomic Diversity, Aug 2004
Led by LGD’s Dr Steve O’Brien, at Smithsonian Conservation & Research Center
Information Technology in Science Certificate & Fellowship, 2001-2003
ITS Center for Teaching and Learning, Texas A&M
M.S., Wildlife Ecology, Texas A&M University, 4.0/4.0 GPR, 1993-1995
B.S., Wildlife Ecology. Texas A&M University, Magna Cum Laude, 1988-1993
School for Field Studies, Center for Rainforest Studies semester abroad, QLD, Australia, Fall 1990
Director William F. Laurence.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS/RESEARCH IN PROGRESS:

 

·         Doctoral Research: Hybridization as a key to understanding speciation: Mechanisms of pre- and postmating reproductive isolation in sympatric frog and toad species from East Texas.

·         Training Wheels for Teaching: the Evolution in Action Workbook Improves Student Critical Thinking. Holtcamp, W. N., L. Griffing, and J. Packard. Submitted.

·         Patch Use Under Predation Hazard: Effects of the Red Imported Fire Ant on Deer Mouse Foraging Behavior. Holtcamp, W. N., W. E. Grant, and S. B. Vinson.  1997. Ecology 78: 308-317.

·         The Spatial Ecology of Small Mammal Community Dynamics: Imported Fire Ants Affect Influence Density-Dependent Habitat Selection of Natives. W. N. Holtcamp, C.K. Williams, and W.E. Grant. Submitted.  

·         The Use of Imaging to Promote Science Inquiry. Holtcamp, W.N., L. Griffing, and J. Packard. 2003. 2003. ITS Working Paper ITS-WP-2003-1. Symposium Proceedings of the Educational Research Exchange (ERE) ITS Center Symposia Series. http://its.tamu.edu/downloads/ITS-WP-2003-1.pdf

·         Grizzly Bears, Evolution, and Critical Thinking: Analyzing a Scaffolding IT for Teaching. Holtcamp, W.N., L. Griffing, L. and J. Packard. 2003. ITS Practitioner Research No. ITS-PR-2003-11. Symposium Proceedings of the Southwest regional meeting of AETS (SWAETS). http://its.tamu.edu/downloads/ITS-PR-2003-11.pdf

·         Internal forest fragmentation: effects of a logging road on small mammal movements in North Queensland rainforest. W.N. Holtcamp, M. Barton, and N. Wolfe. In prep.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

 

·          Houston Advanced Research Center   Scientific editing, writing, and community education about the 2005 Houston Regional Forest Report, produced by the Texas Forest Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

 

·          Houston Biodiversity Atlas, for Houston Wilderness, an evocatively written Atlas to the ecoregions around the Houston/Gulf Coast area.

 

·         Freelance Science/Environment Writer. 1995-present.  Over 100 articles published in Audubon Magazine, Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, National Wildlife Magazine, Sierra Magazine, Discovery Channel Online/AnimalPlanet.com, National Public Radio's (NPR) All Things Considered, Historic Traveler Magazine, Hooked on the Outdoors Magazine, and dozens of other publications.

 

·         GreenDesign Communications –Sole Proprietor, Pasadena, CA 1995-1997. Web design and content development for ERDAS, Plant Health Care, TerraFolia Rainforest Preserve, Air Instruments & Measurements, Childbirth at Home-A Labor of Love, Fred Kogen Berit Mila, Alaska Treetop B&B, and Eco-Rating International websites.

 

·         Eco-Rating International. May 1995 -1997. Pasadena, CA. Ecological Consulting. Evaluated the ecological soundness of the production of consumer products. Interviewed scientists, conducted research, and wrote press releases.

 

·         EG&G Environmental Sciences Dept. Summer 1992. Analyst, assessing impacts of DOE activities on flora & fauna of Mojave desert ecosystem.  Small mammal trapping, vegetation sampling, radio telemetry of desert tortoise, pitfall trapping of reptiles and macroinvertebrates, and data entry.

 

·         LGL Ecological Research Associates. 1991-1992. Lab technician working on a study of secondary productivity in Alaskan wetlands.  Identified and classified benthic invertebrates to Order using microscope.

 

TEACHING AND COURSE CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

 

·         Adjunct Biology Instructor, Kingwood College.  Jan 2000-Aug 2003. Teaching duties include lecture and laboratory, exam preparation, and directing students in stream monitoring and animal behavior research projects. In addition to classroom courses, I developed and taught the first internet (WebCT) Biology course for the North Harris Montgomery Community College District (NHMCCD).   

 

·         Nature Writing E-course, Freelance Success Institute – www.freelancesuccess.com.  Developed content and taught course for professional and aspiring writers for three sessions.

 

·         Morris College of Journalism – developed course content on Nature Writing for students at this Australian University writing program.

 

·         Teaching Assistant, Animal Ecology lab. 1994-1995. Texas A&M University. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences.  College Station, TX 77843-2258. Taught students how to design and conduct a small mammal field ecology experiment. Designed lab lectures & curriculum.  Supervisor: Dr. William E. Grant. 

 

NOT FOR PROFIT WORK

 

·          Involvement in Evolution Education Issues

Ø       Nov 11, 2003: Invited guest on Houston PBS TV show “The Connection” covering the evolution/intelligent design issue with UH Professor Keith Parsons, Discovery Institute’s Ray Bohlin, and TBSE’s Ide Trotter.

Ø       Sep 24, 2003: Panelist and co-organizer of “Evolution: What it is, and what it isn’t” Symposium at Montgomery College with NCSE’s Alan Gishlick and others.

Ø       Sep 10, 2003:  Testified before the Texas State Board of Education as a Christian who studies evolutionary biology and supports strong evolution education.

Ø       Sep 2, 2003: Invited to Houston Chronicle editorial board meeting by Texas Freedom Network.

Ø       Listowner/moderator of the Texas AIBS Evolution-Education listserv

 

Ø       Worked under the 401(c)3 status of the Gulf Coast Institute with David Crossley

Ø       Organized River Bottom Festival outdoor and environmental expo at Lake Houston State Park to raise awareness of the ecological value of bottomland hardwood forest. Held March 10, 2001, approximately 450 people attended, and we raised over $4500 for our organization. Lake Houston State Park has taken over organizing the event.                         

Ø       Successful letter-writing campaigns raised corporate awareness of smart growth issues in NE Houston.  SJCC meetings with Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and HEB resulted in plans for forested buffer zones and more aesthetic planned future developments in our area. 

Ø       Houston Chronicle Metropolitan front page story on Dec 24, 2000.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS/POSTERS

 

·         Multi-User Web-Based Video of Grizzlies and Pandas: the nexus of science and science education. Griffing, L., Sarah, S., N. Robertson, W.N. Holtcamp, and O. Gilad. Poster at the Ecological Integration Symposium, Texas A&M University, Feb 2004.

·         The Nexus of Science and Science Education: Using a digital information technology of American grizzly bears and Chinese panda bears to engage public interest and knowledge in science. Griffing, L., W.N. Holtcamp, H. Crawford, and D. Zatz.Poster at the Conference on China-U.S. Trade, Diplomacy, and Research. Texas A&M University, Nov 2003.

·         Grizzly Bears, Evolution, and Critical Thinking: Analyzing a scaffolding tool for teaching biology. Holtcamp, W.N., L. Griffing, L. and J. Packard. Presentation at the Southwest regional meeting of AETS (SWAETS). Ft Worth, TX. Mar. 1, 2003.

·         The Use of Imaging to Promote Science Inquiry. Holtcamp, W.N., L. Griffing, and J. Packard. Presentation at the Educational Research Exchange (ERE) ITS Center Symposia Series. Texas A&M University, Feb 7, 2003.

·         Alphabet Soup (PBL, GIS, IT): Innovative Ideas for Teaching & Learning Science. Annual Conference of N. Harris Montgomery Community College District. Tomball College, Tomball, TX. March 2002. Holtcamp, W.N.

·         Tree Hugger’s Revenge: Or Why People Need Trees.  Initial presentation of the San Jacinto Conservation Coalition, a nonprofit organization I founded that promoted smart growth and habitat conservation in NE Houston. Dec 7, 2000.

·         The Importance of Scale in Assessing Fire Ant Impacts on Native Small Mammals.  Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Albuquerque, NM. Oct 1993. W. E. Grant, and S. B. Vinson.

·         Fire Ant Impacts on Native Fauna: Invited guest lecturer in Animal Ecology class. Fall 94/Spring 95.

 

SELECTED AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

 

·  American Genetics Association scholarship to attend ‘Recent Advances in Conservation Genetics’ workshop, Aug 16-27, 2004. Presented by AGA and the Laboratory for Genomic Diversity of the National Cancer Institute. http://home.ncifcrf.gov/ccr/lgd/geneticscourse/congen_2004/index_2004.asp

·         Info. Tech. in Science (ITS) Graduate Assistantship. Texas A&M, 2002-2003. 

 

SELECTED FREELANCE WRITING PUBLISHED ARTICLES

 

·         Aquatic Islands in a Sea of Land. Texas landowners and biologists work toward the common goal of conserving springs — and the fragile species that call them home. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine Annual Water Issue. July 2005.

·         Save the Monkeyface! Despite their funny names, freshwater mussels are important indicators of a river's overall health. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. April 2005.

·         Lives of a River. Many small creatures have evolved in harmony with rivers. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine Annual Water Issue. July 2004

·         A Tale of Texas Frogs. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. May 2004.

·         The Way Science Works. Reports of the National Center for Science Education. Sep-Dec 2003.

·         A Grass-Roofs Effort. Sierra Magazine. May/June 2001.

·         Snooping on Red Cockaded Woodpeckers. National Wildlife Magazine. Apr/May 2001

·         River-Hopping with the Manatee.  Hooked on the Outdoors Magazine. April 2001. Photography by Matt & Wendee Holtcamp.

·         The Delights of Dolphins. Dolphins share near-shore habitat with shrimpers and dolphin-watchers, but the balance is a delicate one. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. July 2000.

·         A Moonlight Meander. Kayaking the San Jacinto River reveals the changes this historic boundary of the Big Thicket has endured. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. June 2000.

·         The Fish Wars: A Battle Between Worldviews, Or is it? Feature on the evolution-creation controversy. Second in a series of articles for the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) web site. http://www.asa3.org/ASA/topics/Youth%20Page/FishWars1.html

·         Alaska or Bust! A historical travelogue on the Alaska Highway. Historic Traveler Magazine. Apr. 1999.

·         Love & Death on Turtle Beach. Live 3-week Expedition in Costa Rica covering leatherback turtle research and conservation- 11 articles. Discovery Channel Online.   Jan-Feb 1999 http://web.archive.org/web/19991013054742/www.discovery.com/exp/turtles/day6.html

·         Turbulence Over Clear Creek. Controversy over stream channelization. Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. Feature, Feb. 1999.

·         It Takes a Village: Baja communities play a key role in sea turtle conservation. Animals Magazine. Feature, Nov/Dec. 1998.

·         The "Spockies" Animal Parent Awards. Discovery Channel Online. Feature, April 1998.

·         Tracking Birds for Science: Project Tanager Provides Volunteers a Chance to Conduct Important Field Research. WildBird Magazine. Feature, July 1997.