Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  California State University - Long Beach

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am a plant systematist and I research the evolution of the grass and Acanth plant families. I also do research on floristics and plant conservation.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  When and why did you decide to go into a science career?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  While I was in college I had a summer internship with a field crew at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. We learned how to restore short-grass prairie and oak-hickory savannah and interacted with several botanists. My conversations with them led me to study botany and pursue research.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is best about being a scientist?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  My training in science has opened my eyes to the wonderful diversity of life and I am never bored. I never have a boring day because I have the chance to ask my own questions and pursue the answers.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  One of my current favorite plants is a big shrub in the California desert called desert lavender. It's in the mint family, has purple flowers, and smells just as you would imagine a desert lavender shrub should smell.

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

CCHS Team 12 Amanda E Fisher Mar 22, 2017

Dear Team 12,  I looked at your poster and it looks like you have a good foundation for the introduction, results, and discussion. Do you have the chance to make revisions on the poster? If so, I would suggest two changes:

• Lengthen the…

more

Dear Team 12,  I looked at your poster and it looks like you have a good foundation for the introduction, results, and discussion. Do you have the chance to make revisions on the poster? If so, I would suggest two changes:

• Lengthen the table so all cells are visible
• Arrange the graph so that the dishes are grouped by time period instead of by pH level. That will make it easier to compare across the pH levels! 

Bravo on completing your experiment! If you were able to repeat your experiment, what would you next want to know about ferns? 

CCHS Team 12 Amanda E Fisher Mar 20, 2017

Thank you Team 12.  

I've looked through your data table and I'm wondering if you found that the data supported or rejected your hypothesis? 

 

CCHS Team 12 Amanda E Fisher Mar 15, 2017

Thanks for uploading new data Team 12. Are you starting to see any trends in your data? 

Why do you think pH might have an effect on gametophyte development? Here is a nice explanation of soil pH with background…

more

Thanks for uploading new data Team 12. Are you starting to see any trends in your data? 

Why do you think pH might have an effect on gametophyte development? Here is a nice explanation of soil pH with background information: http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/soilph/soilph.htm