Brett Couch

Associate Professor of Teaching

Office: Biosci 2138

Areas of experience: Biology laboratory and course development, genetics, molecular biology, mycology, molecular phylogenetics.

Research Abstract

My goal as an instructor is to guide students to think like biologists and use a scientific approach to solve problems both within and outside of the classroom.  As an instructor in organismal diversity labs, I also strive to aid students in building observational skills as a habit of mind and to appreciate the biological diversity around them.

Research Interests

Approach to Teaching: As an instructor in the departments of Botany and Zoology at the University of British Columbia, I am part of the large teams that teach introductory biology lectures and labs.  As well, I am responsible for second year Botany and eukaryotic microbiology labs. I have been involved in curriculum development, designing the lab for eukaryotic microbiology and writing the lab manual as well as development of activities and case studies as part of the flexible learning initiative in BIOL121.  I have published case studies through Pearson to support their texts and through the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.  I am currently collaborating on a project to use fine art to teach observational skills in organismal biology labs.