Dr. Alan R. Berkowitz

Head of Education, Plant Ecologist | PhD, Cornell University

Expertise
education

845 677-7600 x311

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Alan Berkowitz is a leader in advancing ecosystem literacy. His efforts include developing teaching materials, facilitating undergraduate research opportunities, and training educators. His projects aim to enhance public understanding of the complex interactions that govern the natural world and the ways that people influence ecosystems.

Berkowitz directs Cary Institute’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Over 30 years running, the program allows students to conduct hands-on ecological research under the advisement of a scientist mentor. The program, which is committed to supporting diversity, has launched nearly 75% of its alums into careers in the sciences. Berkowitz also directs the Urban Water Innovation Network (UWIN) Undergraduate Research Program.

Schools across the nation have the opportunity to partner with Cary Institute to implement freely available curriculum materials and participate in cutting-edge teacher training workshops. These collaborations bring together teachers, education researchers, and scientists – all working to improve ecological science literacy.

Berkowitz is the Education Team Leader for the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES), a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site directed by Cary Institute. In this role, Berkowitz works with teachers in Baltimore City Public Schools to bring BES research into the classroom.

Some themes appropriate for schoolyard ecology and other hands-on ecology education
Feinsinger, Peter, A. Grajal, and Alan R. Berkowitz. 1997. “Some Themes Appropriate for Schoolyard Ecology and Other Hands-on Ecology Education”. Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am. 78: 144-46.
Worm worlds. N. Am. Assoc. Environ. Educ
Berkowitz, Alan R., and Patrick J. Bohlen. 1996. “Worm Worlds. N. Am. Assoc. Environ. Educ”. VINE Neighborhood Ecol. Network, Washington, D. C.
Institutional reward systems for sustaining ecologists' activities in K-12 education
Schoenfeld, I., and Alan R. Berkowitz. 1996. “Institutional Reward Systems for Sustaining ecologists’ Activities in K-12 Education”. Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am. 77: 168-69.
Ecologists' involvement in ecology education
Berkowitz, Alan R. 1996. “Ecologists’ Involvement in Ecology Education”. Newsl. Educ. Sect. Ecol. Soc. Am.
ESA and the United Negro College Fund launch new minority recruitment program
Berkowitz, Alan R., and S. Shoemaker. 1996. “ESA and the United Negro College Fund Launch New Minority Recruitment Program”. Newsl. Educ. Sect. Ecol. Soc. Am.
ESA's Education and Human Resources Office update - April 1996
Berkowitz, Alan R. 1996. “ESA’s Education and Human Resources Office Update - April 1996”. Newsl. Educ. Sect. Ecol. Soc. Am.
Roundtable discussion: ecology in the undergraduate curriculum
Berkowitz, Alan R. 1996. “Roundtable Discussion: Ecology in the Undergraduate Curriculum”. Newsl. Educ. Sect. Ecol. Soc. Am.
Schoolyard ecology: strategies for teacher training programs
Berkowitz, Alan R. 1996. “Schoolyard Ecology: Strategies for Teacher Training Programs”. Newsl. Educ. Sect. Ecol. Soc. Am.
Workshop review: training teachers to teach ecology in the schoolyard
Berkowitz, Alan R. 1996. “Workshop Review: Training Teachers to Teach Ecology in the Schoolyard”. Newsl. Educ. Sect. Ecol. Soc. Am.
Biomass allocation and multiple resource limitation in tree seedlings
Canham, Charles D., Alan R. Berkowitz, Victoria R. Kelly, Gary M. Lovett, S. V. Ollinger, and Jaclyn L. Schnurr. 1996. “Biomass Allocation and Multiple Resource Limitation in Tree Seedlings”. Can. J. For. Res. 26: 1521-30. http://www.caryinstitute.org/reprints/Canham_et_al_1996_Can_J_For_Res_26_1521-1530.pdf.