Keith and Undergrad work on moth traps

Keith Summerville

Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy

Drake University

Olin Hall
Des Moines, IA 50311

voice: (515) 271-2265
fax: (515) 271-2185

e-mail: keith.summerville@drake.edu

Keith's CV (Word file)

Courses

FYS-015 Conserving Biodiversity

ENSP-015 Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy

ENSP-101 Restoration Ecology

ENSP-103 Foundations of Environmentalism

ENSP-125 Conservation Biology

BIO 167 Population Ecology

Research Interests and Philosophy

My research interests are focused on elucidating ecological factors that are responsible for generating and maintaining animal biodiversity and determining significant environmental variables that contribute to the assembly of animal communities at multiple scales. My projects frequently concentrate on hyperdiverse insect communities in forest or prairie habitats, with a specific focus on lepidopteran (butterflies and moths) community dynamics. One of my lifetime goals for my research is to bridge the disciplines of theoretical and applied ecology to educate scientists and non-scientists alike about the processes that regulate species diversity and community structure. My philosophy is that ultimately our success in biodiversity conservation will hinge on our understanding of the roles that natural and anthropogenic processes play in influencing species diversity and distribution in ecological systems. Finally, I seek to maintain a close link between my activities as a researcher and as a teacher at the university level. To that end, I encourage my undergraduate advisees to get involved my research projects, and several of my most recent publications have undergraduate students as co-authors. Research experience is an invaluable asset for undergraduates, and it sets Drake students apart from their competitors once they enter the job market.

Links

Scientific Societies

Iowa Conservation Organizations and State Agencies