Excellence in Instruction - Andrew Baldwin

Dr. Andrew Baldwin joined the faculty of the Department of Biological Resources Engineering and Natural Resource Management program in 1996. His educational accomplishments have been exceptional and include developing and teaching courses in the areas of wetlands, water quality, and ecological risk assessment. He has also mentored a group of outstanding graduate students in a four-year project involving wetlands and community involvement through the University's Gemstone program. Team SWAMP (Sustainable Wetlands And Marsh Protection) is working in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Isaac Walton League to develop a field study and educational outreach program on the effectiveness of wetlands for shoreline stabilization, and a survey of how landowner' attitudes influence the choice of wetlands or traditional bulkheads for stabilizations.

Each year Dr. Baldwin has taught two undergraduate courses: Wetland ecology and Water Quality: Field and Lab Analysis Methods. Both provide extensive hands-on experiences for students. The teaching approaches developed by Dr. Baldwin have been published in the Journal of College Science Teaching. He has also developed and taught graduate level courses including Ecology of Disturbance and Regeneration in Wetland Plant Communities. Teaching these strongly field and laboratory oriented courses requires a combination of excellent teaching skills, considerable organizational ability, perseverance, and the ability to motivate students. Teaching these courses has also involved developing partnerships with many organizations including Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Jug Bay Unit of Patuxent Wetland Park, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Plant Materials Center.

Of the over 500 students that he has taught, many have pursued careers in environmental science and policy, many specific to wetlands and water quality. He has directed graduate research by 11 M.S. and 2 Ph.D. students. His students have received funding for research projects and travel to scientific meetings to present oral and poster presentations. Graduate students under Dr. Baldwin's supervision have been widely published and have presented at the Society of Wetland Scientists and International Congress of Ecology.

Dr. Baldwin is noted for his enthusiasm and excellent command of his topic. Students are excited about what they have learned in class even when the four-hour laboratory has been held outside in the cold and rain.

For more information, contact Gail Yeiser

Last updated: 03/12/2009