Bill Bromer's Home Page
Teaching
I usually teach Ecology, Botany, Earth Science, Principles of Biology II, Environmental Issues, Plant-Animal Interactions, Plant Ecology, and sometimes Plant Physiology. Different teaching styles, ranging from open-end investigations directed by students to lecture and discussion are used, depending on the class but active learning is a part of all my classes. In Ecology and Botany there is a substantial amount of time spent on group research projects and data analysis, while Earth Science and Principles of Biology II have more case studies, collaborative learning and active lectures. In Environmental Issues the class chooses a local environmental problem and we write an Environmental Impact Statement and/or conduct a Risk Assessment of the problem.
Research
Effects of prescribed burning on black oak savannas in Will County Illinois. Ecology of plant-animal interactions and their consequences for populations and communities. Reproductive and conservation biology of rare and endangered plants, animals, and ecosystems. Applied statistics; particularly workable experimental designs for field ecology, sampling problems and data analysis, and computer simulation of complex biological phenomena. Investigation of water quality, avian habitat use, and plant communities along Spring Creek and Rock Run Creek corridors in Joliet, IL. Interdisciplinary study of environmental justice in Joliet and possibly Will County with the assistance of Psychology, Sociology, Ethics, Political Science, Computer Science and Education faculty at the University of St. Francis.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
The Midwein National Tallgrass Prairie is a 19,155 acre grassland that was created under the Illinois Land Conservation Act of 1995 that President Clinton signed into law in February 1996. For further information call Midewin at (815) 423-6370. I have served as a volunteer tour guide at the Midewin Nataional Tallgrass Prairie on the site of the old Joliet Army Ammuntion Plant (Joliet Arsenal). There are many volunteer opportunities available; including restoration activities.. You can be a tour guide, help in the office, plant paririe grasses, forbs, and trees, or you may be able to help with some of the research or monitoring projects. Check out the Midewin WWW site. The Midewin is also the centerpiece of the Prairie Parklands Ecosystem Partnership.
Hobbies
I have been taking guitar lessons since the Fall of 2001 and am having fun. I have also continued playing golf but only about 2-3 times each year so I probably have no real hope of curing my wicked slice unless I can. . I have also been taking some digital photos, and I try to ride my bike to school instead of driving as often as possible.
I enjoy fly fishing for bass, fly fishing for trout, fly fishing for redfish, and fly fishing period. PRACTICE CATCH & RELEASE ONLY. When I was 10, my dad taught me how to cast a fly rod but I really didn't get serious until the summer of 1995. I usually fish in the DuPage River or Kankakee River for smallmouth, and I also visit some local farm ponds for bluegill and largemouth. However, I have successfully fished for redfish and speckled trout on Sanibel Island, Florida during Spring break.
My son, Ryan, plays guitar, hangs with his friends and is a student at St. Francis. My daughter, Emily, loves her art, music, and life at Beloit College. My wife, Linda, enjoys her daycare kids, making scrapbook pages, and reading.
Basic Information
| Phone: | (815) 740-3467 |
| FAX: | (815) 740-4285 |
| E-mail: | wbromer |
| Address: | 500 N. Wilcox, Joliet, IL 60435 |
| Office Hours | Spring 2006 | Office: | A221 | St. Al's |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11-12
|
-
|
11-12
|
1-2
|
11-12
|