Teaching & Outreach

Teaching, Outreach, EBCI, and Dung Beetle Diaries

Teaching

EEB 419 - Global Change Ecology
EEB 509 - Ecology CORE
BIOL 260 - Ecology
BIOL 269 - Ecology Field-Based Laboratory

Outreach

In addition to teaching, we conduct outreach activities to foster an interest in science and support diversity in STEM fields. Below are examples of outreach activities in the lab.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians High School Program

In 2016, we began working on an outreach program with Dr. Caleb Hickman and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Nearly two years later, we were excited to launch the first summer of our program which provided field-based research and coding experiences for EBCI high school students! You can learn more about the program here.

Other outreach activities in the Sheldon Lab:

Will, an undergraduate researcher in the lab, visited a Botany and Zoology class at Carter High School to talk about dung beetles. Here he’s showing students our cool study organisms!

Maggie leading after school science activities at the Knoxville Boys & Girls Club

In May 2017, Maggie (second from R) taught undergraduates how to trap and identify beetles as part of the course Natural History in the Smokies

In 2017, Kimberly organized and hosted a series on Women, Ecology, and Conservation in a Changing World along with Jen Schweitzer (EEB) and Sally Horn (Geography).

Kimberly (far right) participating in the Discussion Panel for the 2017 Annual Women in STEM Symposium hosted by Pipeline at UTK.

Teaching a student how to capture and handle insects.

Volunteering with Uinta Pika Watch, which brings seventh graders to the field to gather scientific data.

Members of the Sheldon Lab at the June 2016 BioBlitz (led by Discover Life in America) in Oak Ridge, TN.

Presenting at the Graduate & Advanced Lady Scientists (GALS) Workshop in Utah.

Coming Back Soon!

EBCI High School Summer Science Program

General Information:

We are seeking 5-7 high school students from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) for a summer research program. Students will work in Cherokee alongside researchers from the Sheldon Lab of the University of Tennessee and the EBCI Office of Fisheries and Wildlife Management to learn about wildlife research. Participants will have the chance to learn about biodiversity of the Qualla Boundary through a biological survey. Students will also have the opportunity to shadow EBCI biologists on other research projects involving salamander conservation, bat biology, bird banding, fish conservation, and elk management.
Students will meet with researchers on weekdays for approximately 6 hours each day. This will allow students the opportunity to participate in the program while also participating in other summer opportunities and activities.
Students will gain insight into scientific careers, obtain experience in field research, gain knowledge of wildlife of the Qualla Boundary, and learn about data collection and computer coding. The technical skills gained through this program will be excellent for building resumes and will help students launch careers in science, technology, engineering, or math.
Interested students should send a single document that contains the following information:
Name and email
Year in high school (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior)
List of high school science and math courses that have been taken with the grade earned and a list of planned future courses
In 200-300 words describe your interest in science and how you may benefit from the program
In 100-200 words describe how climate change may affect you or your family
Applications should be emailed to Dr. Kimberly Sheldon at ksheldon@utk.edu
Questions regarding the program or application process can be directed to Dr. Kimberly Sheldon (ksheldon@utk.edu) or Dr. Caleb Hickman (calehick@nc-cherokee.com).