An Update on the FieldTaught System

Well, mostly I have been thinking and preparing to take that leap of faith to go out on my own and create a field school where I can with the help of other scientist in other fields offer a well-rounded curriculum for person who desires to learn how and what a field scientist does. Not to say that all science is field work, however, if you asked most researchers in the natural sciences, I am sure they would say the field portion is the best part.

So at this point in time I am concentrating on the legal and financial challenges that are involved in bringing this dream to fruition. I will either form a Corporation or a NPO (Non-profit organization). I have little experience with either, but have a partner who has been in retail as a manager for nearly 18 years and a father who owns his own environmental business, so I am leaning toward corporation. But that could change as soon as I have legal counsel. I have thought of a great name for the corporation or NPO, but I am not going to divulge that until it is legally registered.

As I said before, field work is only a portion of environmental research and at this point I have not written a curriculum or even a syllabus for a single class, but I am sure I would have to include a section on how to write a report. You do want to report your findings! I would also provide examples of my publications as well as those of other scientist in other fields. It may not be your desire to publish in a scientific journal (and that is OK). But, if you did, it would be nice to know how the peer review system works and how collaboration with other scientist can increase the likelihood of being published. I am not promising anyone that taking a field course would get you published, but you cannot rule that out either. There are all kinds of publications. Major publications can take months or years of research, but there are minor publications such as natural history notes, range extensions, and new techniques published in journals all the time. If you are looking for a job as a field technician or even want to pursue a graduate degree, having these types of publications on your resume can be an important asset towards landing that position. As I said before, I just wanted to update anyone interested in learning field research, on my progress to date. My goal to quit my day job and go full time as an instructor of the FieldTaught system is January 1, 2010. I have even bought hosting and the domain name and I am working on a web page for the entire organization of which FieldTaught is only one aspect. I am a well rounded Environmental Scientist with 20+ years of experience, thus, I have many plans for this organization, from carbon sequestering to alternative means of energy production. I would also teach these topics and how to get involved in them in FieldTaught courses. Enough for now, but I will try to update this page more often until the website is up and running.

I Have Thought About This for a Long Time

I have given considerable thought to this FieldTaught concept for a long time. It probably goes back as far as in the late 1990s when I found out that the land my family owns in Alabama could be prime habitat for the red hills salamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti). This species is listed threatened by USFWS. I have wanted to survey the limited habitat preferred by this salamander for years. The only problem being that I have not lived in the area for some time. My father who actually owns the land has told me that he plans to give me this land. There is about 200 acres but only about 15 acres of it would suitable for the red hills salamander. However, the rest of the land is primarily pine plantation with a few random hardwood patches. There are a lot of species to be studied there. There are really only two problems with starting with this parcel of land. 1.) It is probably a two hour drive from a decent commercial airport (Mobile). 2.) It is surrounded by hunting leases, So I would not want to take anyone out there during hunting season. However, this may have to be the initial base of this project until I could raise sufficient funds to purchase more accessible but undeveloped land.

The FieldTaught Concept

I was trying to come up with an idea to help conserve wildlife habitat and be a field biologist at the same time. I came to one conclusion, if I was to conserve wildlife habitat, I would have to obtain a decent sized parcel of undeveloped land. Ideally this land would have multiple habitat types such as pine plantation, hardwood bottomland, wetland areas and perhaps a creek or river frontage. This would give me the opportunity to begin Phase II of my plan, have a place where people of all walks of life could come to learn about wildlife in the field. Since I am trained mainly in herpetology, freshwater ichthyology and mammalogy I would start out instructing these types of field courses . I am thinking of calling this organization FieldTaught.

The FieldTaught organization would be created to help everyone appreciate the diversity of flora and fauna in the U.S. We would teach courses on reptiles and amphibians, small mammals, birds, fish, plants and invertebrates. We believe one of the best ways to do that is to train people in the skills needed to identify, record, track, or monitor wildlife and plants. In addition, our courses help participants understand the status and legislation surrounding different species and provide up-to-date information on how to conserve our natural heritage.

Yes there would be fees for courses, but most of this money would be used to by more undeveloped properties in different ecosystems. Although I grew up and received a BS and MS in the Southeast U.S., I went to graduate school in New Mexico and have worked as a field biologist all over the southwest U.S.

I think when I get this concept off the ground the possibilities could be limitless. Specialist in geology, archeology, and sustainable and green living could be hired as instructors. Make learning fun.