Owens, Thomas G
Assoc Prof
My overall goals at Cornell continue to be improving the pedogagy of instruction, particularly in large classroom environments. I continue to work on several aspects of the biology curriculum. I chair several committees in the Office of Undergraduate Biology focused on teaching and research in the Biology major. This year I am on a leave of absence from Cornell, producing 3D animations of cellular processes and associated online, Socratic tutorials for use in introductory biology courses.
research
research and scholarship focus
My research efforts are focused on several approaches to understanding the processes that limit the rate of photosynthesis under physiological conditions. In particular, we are looking at the role that polyploidy may play in releasing these limitations to photosynthesis. I continue to be involved in several collaborations related to evaluating photosynthetic responses to environmental stress and genetic modification.
co investigator of
research areas
- biophysics | collaborative research area (CALS)
- evolution | collaborative research area (CALS)
- molecular biology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- science education | collaborative research area (CALS)
submitted impact statement
- Innovative teaching in the biological sciences | 2006 Impact statement
- Instruction in the biological sciences using active learning and assessment | 2005 Impact statement
- Paradigms and pedagogy for interactive teaching in the large classroom environment | 2004 Impact statement
affiliations
faculty appointment in
- Plant Biology (BIOPL) | Cornell department
member of graduate field
- Biophysics | graduate field
- Plant Biology | graduate field
teaching
teaching focus
My instructional activities continue to be active learning in large classroom environments, implementation of the recommendations of Bio2010, and consultation with major publishers of introductory biology texts. This year I am on a leave of absence from Cornell, producing 3D animations of cellular processes and associated online, Socratic tutorials for use in introductory biology courses.
teaches
- BIOG 2000 - Special Studies in Biology (TR 01:25:PM-02:40:PM) | fall 2009 class
- BIOG 2990 - Introduction to Research Methods in Biology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- BIOG 4990 - Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- BIOGD 4831 - Plant Molecular Biology I: Concepts and Techniques of Plant Molecular Biology (MWF 10:10:AM-11:00:AM) | fall 2009 class
- BIOPL 4831 - Plant Molecular Biology I: Concepts and Techniques of Plant Molecular Biology (MWF 10:10:AM-11:00:AM) | fall 2009 class
- BIOPL 7490 - Graduate Research in Botany (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLBR 4831 - Plant Molecular Biology I: Concepts and Techniques of Plant Molecular Biology (MWF 10:10:AM-11:00:AM) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 4831 - Plant Molecular Biology I: Concepts and Techniques of Plant Molecular Biology (MWF 10:10:AM-11:00:AM) | fall 2009 class
- BIOG 2990 - Introduction to Research Methods in Biology (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- BIOPL 3420 - Plant Physiology, Lectures (TR 10:10:AM-11:25:AM) | spring 2009 class
- BIOPL 7490 - Graduate Research in Botany (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
service
outreach focus
no extension component
Keywords: biology curriculum revision, biophysics of photosynthesis, computer simulation, pedagody of teaching freshman biology, pedagogy of teaching, physiology and biophysics of photosynthesis, plant molecular biology, plant physiology