academics
My Colby-Sawyer Experience
“I know these students very well, and they know me…You know when and how to push them. I think that's what Colby-Sawyer does particularly well—helps students reach beyond where they've been to discover their own potential.” - Communication Studies Professor Donna Berghorn
[ read more ]
biology faculty
Benjamin B. Steele, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair,
Department of Natural Sciences
Colby-Sawyer College
New London, NH 03257
603 526-3677
603 526-3429 FAX
E-Mail: bsteele@colby-sawyer.edu
B.A. Harvard University
M.S. Utah State University
Ph.D. Dartmouth College
I teach courses in ecology, animal behavior, evolution, conservation biology, Environmental Studies, and other sciences. In my classes, I focus on the natural environment around New London as much as possible. I am also very involved in curriculum development, including quantitative literacy liberal education.
I continue to do research on bird conservation. Since my most recent sabbatical, I have continued studying the Common Eider in Finland. This fascinating bird has interesting social behaviors, including joint care of young, but also suffers from declining populations. I plan to continue this work, accompanied by students when possible. I also have recently been involved in the clean-up of a toxic chemical that has killed thousands of ducks in Alaska. Students have accompanied me on that study as well. See Research
Courses I Teach
BIO 107 - Interactions in Ecology
BIO 212 - Evolution and Diversity
BIO 314 - Animal Behavior
BIO 318 - Terrestrial Ecology
BIO 407 - Conservation Biology
HON350 - Mountains
In this honors course we investigated the physiological, ethical, environmental, social, and cultural issues raised by climbing big mountains, using Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air as a starting point.
