Hello,

I am Dr. Dorothy Boorse, Associate professor of Biology at Gordon College.

I am interested in wetland ecology, invertebrates, vernal pools and salt marshes.

I am also passionate bout increasing women and minorities in science, science and faith communities, and literary science. I do teaching, research with students,  and my own writing.   I am particularly interested in science and non-scientists- how science is portrayed in culture, and how people relate science and faith.  I love being outdoors and love wetlands more than just about anything.

I am back from a fall 2008 sabbatical!! On sabbatical, I wrote five chapters in an upcoming textbook:

Environmental Science by Richard Wright, published by  Pearson Prentis Hall: See me as a contributing author on the 2010 edition!!

Dorothy  Boorse, Ph.D                            Go to: Biology Dept. (Faculty Site) 

Associate Professor of Biology            Gordon Biology (Official Gordon Site)                   

Ken Olsen Science Center ( KOSC) room 319

Research lab KOSC 320.

Biology Department, Gordon College

Wenham, MA 01984

Phone: 978-867-4382

Fax: 978-867-4666

Email: dorothy.boorse@gordon.edu

Background:

PhD 1998 Oceanography and Limnology , University of Wisconsin-Madison

MS 1993 Entomology , Cornell University

BS. 1987 Biology,  Gordon College

Classes I Teach

CR100 Christianity, Character and Culture

An introduction to a Christian worldview and the liberal arts through literature, film,  and discussion

BIO 151 (Biology II)  Zoology and Animal Physiology-

BIO 250 (Biology III) Plants, Ecology and Evolution

BIO 260 (Biology IV) Introduction to Research in Biology

NS222/ BY222 Environmental Science

BIO 225 Nutrition (I don’t usually teach this but I have)

BIO 310 Ecology

BIO 440 Advanced Techniques in Ecology- focus on invasive species.

BIO 471 Selected Topics in Environmental Science

BIO 491 Senior Seminar-  a capstone course

BIO 471-472 independent Research

Research with Students-  some recent projects

above: Here I am with a student , taking data in Gordon Woods in 2006

 Schetne, M.  and D.  Boorse 2008. The Effect of  mammal Burrow Density of Egg Mass Abundance of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in Vernal Pools . poster at Gordon College Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Schetne, M.  and D.  Boorse  2008. Velvet Bean and Landslides: A case study of  the abonera cover cropping system in Honduras and the complications of  conf licting perspectives . Honors research and poster at Gordon College Undergraduate Research Symposium.

 Ames, C.  J.  Rosenbaum, W. Ciullo, and D. Boorse 2007. The Effect of Trace Metal Concentration on Egg Mass Abundance in Amphibians of Vernal Pools.  poster presented by student at Undergraduate Research Symposium  Bridgewater State College, Nov 10, 2007.

Boorse, D, E. Camp, W. Daya, L. Hamel, C. Mathison, T. Russell, 2005. “Wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg mass abundances in relation to landscape, basin and micro-site characteristics” paper presented at Ecological Society of America Meeting Toronto, Canada Aug 2005-

 Kerry, J., D. Boorse, and R. Buchsbaum. 2004. The effect of nutrient enrichment on salt marsh macro-invertebrates in three marshes in Essex County, Massachusetts. Biological Bulletin.  Funded by REU fellowship funded by NSF through a collaboration with Plum Island Long Term Ecological Research station and Woods Hole Marine Biology Lab.

D. Boorse, S. Walsh, Agnew, A., R. Bohl, K. Faulks, L. Khoyi, L. Konecny, A. Mack, A. Martin, N. Sturm. 2003. Wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg mass abundances in relation to vernal pool shape and selected water quality characteristics. Poster presented at Ecological Society of America meetings Aug 3-10, 2003 Savannah, GA.

D. Boorse , R. Bohl, M. Hagenmeyer, R. Kostas, S. Park, M. Pratt, M. Walker. 2003

Mapping of Invasive Species on Gordon College Campus and Selected Roads in Essex County, MA. Poster presented by Boorse at the New England Invasive Plant Summit. Sept 19-20, 2003 Framingham, MA.

D. Boorse, S. Walsh, Agnew, A., R. Bohl, K. Faulks, L. Khoyi, L. Konecny, A. Mack, A. Martin, N. Sturm. 2003. Wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg mass abundances in relation to vernal pool shape and selected water quality characteristics. Poster presented at  the Second Annual Bridgewater State Undergraduate Environmental Research Symposium. Bridgewater State College, Nov 15, 2003. Took 5 students to the conference. Presented poster with students.

Below: these are spotted salamander eggs from a local vernal pool. They are really interesting parts of vernal pool ecology.

Below: Here I am in Gordon's Coy pond, with several students. This was for a school publicity shot, taken when not much was out so we are feigning interest in the one green leaf in the pond.

Other Projects:

RECENT TALKS (available at Gordon on iTunes U):

A Sense of Place - Godly Wonder in Our Father's World

Love of Land at Gordon

Nature Writing:

In June 2008, I attended  The Wildbranch workshop, hosted by Orion Magazine at Sterling College, VT. It was wonderful. I am interested in expressing the joy and wonder of nature, and using literature to express and understand science. Here is a short fun piece I wrote for the Gordon Community:

              The Winter Moth

Science and Faith Issues:

I am particularly interested in healing the rift people perceive between science and Christian faith.

I am most interested in encouraging people to care for creation and have published in the Journal Creation Care, put out by the Evangelical Environmental Network.

Here are a number of articles that might be of interest:

Boorse, D. 2006  “Teaching Environmental Ethics: non-indigenous invasive species as a study of human relationships to nature. Pg 160-172  In C. Palmer [ed.] Teaching Environmental Ethics.  Brill: London

 Boorse, D. 2004. Teaching Environmental Ethics: Invasive Species as a Study of Human Relationships to Nature. Worldviews: Environment, Culture and Religion. 8 (2-3) : 323-335(13)

Boorse, D. 2005. Anti-aging: radical longevity, environmental impacts, and Christian theology.  Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith. 57( 1):55-64

Boorse, D. 2003. Overpopulation: Ecological and Biblical Principles Concerning Limitation. World Views: Environment, Culture and Religion. Vol 7 (1): 154-170.

Boorse, D. 2007. My Dream . Creation Care. Fall 2007 pg. 23.

Boorse, D. 2008.  Creation care: religious communities and environmental action. The Review of Faith and international Affairs. 6(3):

I also have a review of a Part  5 of the Truth Project by Focus on the Family:

Review of Truth Project, Part 5

Global Climate Change:

              I am a presenter for the faith community through The Climate Project and have done some writing on how to understand the public discourse on climate change.

Here are links to a couple:

Conflicting Claims About Environmental Problems: A Primer For Non Scientists

(Creation Care 36:24-27 )

Here is a white paper response to Inhofe- to the 2008 Inhofe Minority Report on Cimate Change.