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I have been a researcher and lecturer at the University of California - Santa Cruz for nearly 30 years. My primary professional interests are behavioral ecology, conservation, and teaching undergraduate field courses. My specialty is birds and I have studied species in California, the Pacific Northwest, Latin America, Alaska, and Hawaii. I am currently the lead investigator for a research program designed to prevent and assess injury to marine birds and mammals during oil spills.
I have been a lecturer at UCSC since 1991, teaching courses in field natural history, ornithology, and the ecology of marine birds and mammals. I have had the very good fortune to teach the Natural History Field Quarter for 15 years. There are many great field courses out there but none offers a better combination of academic challenge and the chance for personal growth.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that the best way to learn about the natural world is to observe it first hand. All of my courses feature significant time in the field. My goal is to teach every student to observe critically – to identify species, describe behaviors, and recognize ecological patterns. Once mastered, these skills enable students to continue to learn throughout their lives whether their interests are personal or professional.
Curriculum Vitae for Breck Tyler
I am the general curator of the UC Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Collections, where I have worked since 2001. In this capacity I oversee a diverse collection of plants, fungus, insects and vertebrates used for both teaching and research. My academic interests include evolution, ecology and natural history. I have extensive training in bird behavior and ecology, including an M.S. in Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan. I have worked on and lead projects on bird monitoring and ecology in California, Latin America, and Hawaii. I am also interested in mycology, and am working on an inventory of the mushroom species that occur at UCSC. I am also currently editing a book on the natural history of the UC Santa Cruz campus.
I have been a lecturer at UCSC since 2001. I have co-taught a field-based senior exit course entitled “Advanced Avian Ecology”. Since 2003 I have taught “The Natural History of the Campus”, a course that aims to help students learn how to frame and research ecological questions, as well as to familiarize them with the geology, plants, animals, and human history of the area.
I believe that most of us learn best through the act of discovery, and that field-based courses such as those that I have participated in and such as the Natural History Field Quarter provide the best opportunities for such experiential-based learning. I aim to encourage students to participate in their learning experiences, and to engender curiosity and critical thinking and observational skills that will continue to help students throughout their academic and working careers.
Curriculum Vitae for Tonya Haff
program info | courses | field conditions | instructor | costs