Biological Sciences News Archives

College of Sciences and Mathematics News Page

News

Department loses one of its finest:
George W. Folkerts (1938-2007)

George W. Folkerts was born November 26, 1938 and died December 14, 2007 at his residence in Auburn. He was a valued member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University for the past 38 years. He earned a B.A. degree in zoology and a M.A. degree in botany from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in herpetology from Auburn University. During his career as a teacher and researcher, George studied every aspect of nature. His comprehensive knowledge of the plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates inhabiting the Southeast was second to none, and he was a renowned expert in the ecology of disappearing habitat types and declining species. George’s passion for conserving nature made him a leader for local, state, and national conservation efforts. Part of his legacy for these efforts was his being honored by having multiple native species named after him. In the late 1990s, he led a successful effort to save Auburn University’s Davis Arboretum from building encroachment and ensure its preservation as a sanctuary for native plants. During his tenure as a faculty member at Auburn University, George was a dedicated teacher who loved teaching and was loved by his students; however, his purpose was never to be the teacher but, rather, to teach students to learn. He won numerous teaching awards and exposed countless students to the wonders of the natural world both in the classroom and field. His courses were truly inspirational and his classroom teaching style was one in which students were simultaneously challenged and made to feel comfortable in the presence of a friend and mentor. He successfully trained many graduate students who have gone on to secure positions as teachers and scientists across the United States. George was kind to all who met him, generous with the time he offered to others, and humble despite his exceptional accomplishments. He had a magnetic personality that enlivened every gathering and made him a beloved member in the local trivia community.

George is survived by his loving wife, Debbie (Dr. Debbie Folkerts), his sister, Trudy, his daughters Molly and Merrill, and his son Evan.

OA News Guestbook

Biology faculty, Dr. Geoff Hill, publishes book on Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Hunt

Noted ornithologist, Dr. Geoffrey Hill, has just had his latest book, “The Search for Proof in a Flooded Wilderness”, published by Oxford University Press.  In it, he tells the story of how he and two of his colleagues stumbled upon what may be a breeding population of the long- thought extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the swamps of northern Florida. He relates their laborious attempts to document irrefutable evidence for the existence of this shy, elusive bird following the failure of a much larger research team to definitively prove the bird's existence.  Written like a good detective story, Ivorybill Hunters also delves into the science behind the rediscovery of a species, explaining how professional ornithologists follow up on a sight record of a rare bird, and how this differs from the public's perception of how scientists actually work. Hill notes the growing role of amateurs in documenting bird activity and discusses how the community of birders and nature lovers can see, enjoy, and help preserve these birds. 

Drs. Aaron Rashotte and Wendy Hood join Biological Sciences faculty

Dr. Aaron Rashotte has joined the Department of Biological Sciences in the Summer, 2007 semester as an Assistant Professor of Developmental Genetics. Dr. Rashotte has a PhD from the University of Arizona and joins us after being a NASA/NSCORT Postdoctoral Fellow at Wake Forest University and a NIH/NSRA Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Dr Wendy Hood has joined the Department of Biological Sciences as an Assistant Research Professor of Nutritional Ecology.  Dr. Hood has a PhD from Boston University and was on faculty at Coastal Carolina University for 5 years before coming to Auburn.  Her research combines her training in physiology, nutrition, and behavior to address questions regarding how animals adapt to limiting dietary resources.

Dr. Roland Dute wins prestigious Leischuck Teaching Award

  Dr. Roland Dute was named one of Auburn University’s top teachers for 2007. He was the recipient of the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Deep South plants to go digital

AUBURN - Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics is part of a project to create high-resolution digital images of 100,000 plant specimens found in the East Gulf Coastal Plain that will be accessible to scientists and students everywhere via the World Wide Web.

AU and its project partners, Florida State University, Troy University, the University of South Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi, kicked off the Deep South Plant Specimen Imaging Project this spring with a two-year, $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

The East Gulf Coastal Plain region stretches across Alabama from the Florida Panhandle to the Mississippi River and about 175 miles inland. It is home to about 3,000 native plant species, 125 of which are endemic to the deep south and found nowhere else on earth.

According to Leslie Goertzen, assistant professor of biological sciences at AU and principal investigator for the project, the East Gulf Coastal Plain region is one of the nation’s hotspots for biodiversity and species endangerment, and yet is one of the least documented. Goertzen said that many of the counties in our eco-region are in the 95th percentile of all U.S. counties when ranked by the number of threatened and endangered species.