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Richard Gill

Dean, Undergraduate Educ, Professor
Biology , Dean's Office

350 MSRB - Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602

Biography

Richard Gill developed an interest in ecology as a child while exploring the forests and seashores of Washington State. This attraction to wild places motivated Dr. Gill to study Conservation Biology as an undergraduate at Brigham Young University and to receive a PhD in Ecology from Colorado State University. His PhD research on plant-soil interactions in dryland ecosystems, supervised by Indy Burke, dovetailed well with his postodoctoral research on plant physiological ecology with Rob Jackson at Duke University. Dr. Gill returned home to Washington in his first faculty position at Washington State University. There he pursued research on global change ecology, studying the impacts of changes in atmospheric CO2, temperature, and drought. In 2008 he joined the faculty of his alma mater as an associate professor of biology. He teaches in Conservation Biology courses and in the general and honors education curriculum.

Research Interests

My research program focuses on ecosystem and community responses to climate variability. My research is directly relevant to the courses that I teach. I believe that my research addresses key questions to understand and mitigate the influence of humans on global climate and to address key resource issues in the American West and developing small-island states in the South Pacific.

Teaching Interests

My long-term goals as a teacher are to instill enthusiasm for science and develop life-long critical thinking skills in my students. I assert that one of the ways that I can achieve this goal is through a critical assessment of past teaching approaches and through a theory-driven modification of my approach to teaching. My teaching is driven by the philosophy that active learning increases information retention, critical thinking, and long-term learning behaviors. My goal is to include pedagogy in my scholarship and as a reflection of this I have published 3 papers related to teaching, including two in the Journal of College Science Teaching. I continue to seek additional ways to improve my teaching and have attended two professional development meetings related to science and diversity education.

BIO 100-General Biology
BIO 350-Ecology
BIO 450-Capstone in Biodiversity and Conservation
BIO 653-Community and Ecosystem Ecology
HONORS 220-Unexpected Connections

Honors and Awards

  • John Tanner Lectureship Award, Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum (2018 - 2018)
  • Alcuin Fellowship, General Education (2015 - 2017)
  • College of Life Sciences Teaching Award, College of LIfe Sciences, BYU (2011 - 2011)
  • Karl and Mollie Butler Young Scholar, Charles Redd Center (2009 - 2009)
  • Honors Faculty Award, Honors College, Washington State University (2007 - 2007)
  • Young Faculty of the Year, College of Sciences, Washington State University (2003 - 2003)

Administrative Assignments

  • Biology: Department Chair (2019 - Present)

Courses Taught

Publications

Zachary T Aanderud Jason Bahr David M Robinson Jayne Belnap Tayte P Campbell Richard A Gill Brock R McMillan Samuel B St Clair John Lindsay Adhieu Arok Seth Mikaya Bybee Walter Cho April Maskiewicz Cordero Daniel G Ferguson Leontine L Galante Richard Angus L. Gill Mark Mann Steven Lee Peck Cassidy L Shively Michael Robert Stark Joshua Adam Stowers Michael Tenneson Ethan R Tolman Thomas Arvel Wayment Jamie L Jensen Jamie L Jensen Katie F Manwaring Richard Angus Gill Richard R Sudweeks Randall Spencer Davies Joseph A Olsen Andrea J Phillips Seth Mikaya Bybee William Bradshaw Andrea J. Phillips Seth Mikaya Bybee Richard Angus Gill Steven Lee Peck Jamie L Jensen Colin L. Tucker Theresa A. McHugh Armin Howell Richard Angus Gill Bettina Weber Jayne Belnap Edmund Grote Sasha C. Reed Lafe G. Conner Richard Angus Gill Joshua T. Harvey Anne Thomas Richard Angus Gill Samuel B St Clair Rory O'Connor Richard Angus Gill Brock R McMillan Andrew C. Procter Richard Angus Gill Philip A. Fay H. Wayne Polley Robert B. Jackson R P Yurkewycz John G Bishop C M Crisafulli J A Harrison Richard Angus Gill Zenquing Shi Zsuzanna Balogh-Brunstad Michael Grant James Harsh Richard Angus Gill Linda Tomashow Alice Dohnalkova D Stacks M. Letourneau C Kent Keller Richard Angus Gill Richard Angus Gill

Presentations

Katie Manwaring Jamie L Jensen Richard Angus Gill Richard R Sudweeks Randall Spencer Davies Joseph A Olsen William S Bradshaw
Richard Angus Gill
Richard Gill