My name is Amy Cook and I am a faculty member at Evergreen. I teach biology in a variety of different contexts including broadly interdisciplinary programs for freshmen and sophomores and more focused programs for juniors and seniors. The interdisciplinary programs I teach typically bring together the natural history of the Pacific Northwest with art (both 2D and 3D), social science or mathematics. The upper-division programs I teach focus on marine biology, vertebrate biology and evolution, conservation biology and wildlife management.
My research is focused on the study of animal behavior in the field. It includes the study of breeding behavior in Pigeon Guillemots in the San Juan Islands, Washington and the study of behavioral ecology of tidepool sculpins. I often mentor students doing research in these systems as part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates at the Friday Harbor Labs on San Juan Island.
Education
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, 1998; B.S., The Evergreen State College, 1990.
Teaching Style
My approach to teaching at Evergreen focuses on providing students with opportunities to apply the biological concepts learned in the classroom to lab and field activities. This includes using case studies in which students to apply these concepts to real-world problems and learn techniques in environmental problem-solving. Another key element of my approach is to use interdisciplinary thinking whenever possible to aid in the study of issues like conservation biology and habitat restoration.