My research interests lie in the areas of ecology and evolution, primarily plant evolutionary ecology. Here are some photos of student research, both in class and independent research. Research is not complete until it has been communicated to the scientific community. While we attend regional meetings such as the Minnesota Academy of Sciences, students who attend national meetings learn so much more Angela Hendrickson and I discussing our research at the Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Snowbird, Utah Students learn about the process of research in classes. Here are some photos from classes. My Ecology course includes two months of outdoor ecology projects in both terrestrial and aquatic ecology. Here, student collect data on the effects of goldenrod gall flies on goldenrod plants. More ecology students collecting stream invertebrates to answer questions about differences in species diversity among different habitats. Kang Her tries to wear a pair of waders that are a bit too big. During study abroad courses we try to integrate research into the courses. Marcella Goff and Sean Bundy examine stream invertebrates in a Costa Rican stream. We were lucky to see a nest of sea turtles hatch while on Playa Nancite in Costa Rica. Jeanette watches a baby turtle seek the safety of the water. When possible I like to have summer research students work on parts of larger projects. Matt Doane collects data at Shovel Point, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. We were examining changing in plant community composition along the cliff edge, where human disturbance is common. Last updated October 18, 2002 mfarris@piper.hamline.edu