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Dr. Andrew Baldwin-In Tune With His Environment
Andrew Baldwin, an expert on wetland ecology and engineering, is undergraduate program director of the Department of Environmental Science and Technology. He joined the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1996 and enjoys working with students outdoors, even in freezing rain or searing heat.
How do technology and the environment fit together in this new department?
People hear “technology” and think “computers.” A lot of the research in our department helps design ways to solve problems—an applied technology approach. Pat Kangas is using algae to clean wastewater and create biofuels. Josh McGrath is working on a GPS/sensor system that lets farmers fertilize only exactly where needed. Other faculty are working on how to use plants to purify indoor air or use bacteria to clean up hazardous waste.
Why should students be interested in environmental science at Maryland?
We’re one of the only universities that offer undergraduate concentrations in ecological and technology design and in environmental health. The university’s location is great. Maryland is physiographically diverse—there are wetlands and forests, mountains and beaches. The university is surrounded by urban conditions, but we’re only a few miles from the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, which has experimental farms, plus forests and fields. We’re also near a lot of federal and state government agencies and nonprofits where graduates can find internships and jobs.
What are the most pressing issues in your field?
We need to learn more about ecosystem restoration. Another big one is climate change; it’s changing precipitation patterns, temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations.
How does your love of nature extend beyond the classroom?
I’m a botanist—I go out and identify plants. Sometimes, I’ll just take a walk with my field guide. I’ve tried to take my kids out, but they say, “Nooooo.”
You're known for your enthusiasm for teaching in the field. How do students respond?
I tell the students, “We’re going to go outside,” and they don’t really believe me. One time, it was raining and 35 degrees out, and I saw one kid had on only shorts and a T-shirt. After they do that once or twice, they seem to be more prepared.
You play bass, guitar and drums and sing with a band, but you’re also the college’s commencement singer. What’s that like?
I sing the national anthem and the alma mater. I try to spice it up, maybe a fist in the air. Then, usually, I high-five the dean on the way back to my seat.
Written by Lauren Brown, Terp magazine.
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Last updated: 02/21/2010
Dr. Andrew Baldwin is also the editor of the new book: Tidal Freshwater Wetlands (2009), an indepth examination of how wetlands work, the animal and plant life they support and the threats they face.