Books
The Biology Everywhere Story
One of my earliest teaching assignments was teaching non-majors introductory biology. As part of my evidence based pedagogy, I used a variety of classroom assessment techniques, such as exit tickets, to learn more about my students.
Over the course of several semester, I noted a common theme with my non-majors students: feelings of dread, fear, and disillusionment with taking a biology class. Unfortunately, my interactions with many members of the public revealed similar sentiments. Whether in the classroom or with the public, I often heard recurring messages of “I’m not smart enough to do science” or “When am I EVER going to need to know this?
As a biology education, learning scientist, and science nerd, I was troubled by the pervasive negative feelings people held towards science. It’s not a matter of if a student needs to know something – but when and how they’ll need the information they learn in our classrooms. When the time comes in which a student needs to engage with a scientific issue in the course of their daily lives, how can we ensure that students leave the classroom feeling empowered to engage?
I decided to completely change my teaching approach with the students.
I started teaching SCIENCE IN CONNECTION WITH OUR DAILY EXPERIENCES: the connection between what the students were learning in the classroom, their majors, and their lives.
Science content can feel abstract to students. That fuels the idea that science is inaccessible, and drives students away from engaging in the classroom. They feel like they can’t do it, or aren’t smart enough and so they shut down. They disengage with scientific issues, not just in the classroom but in society as well, and may even choose to align what they consider to be good science with their political party affiliation.
When we think about the applicability of science to our daily experiences, the content becomes relatable and therefore more accessible. This approach is also more student driven too.
By the end of the semester, students were talking about having their first positive experience in a science classroom, instead of their belief that they “weren’t smart enough” to do well in a science course.
This experience led to the creation of Biology Everywhere: How the science of life matters to everyday life. The bedrock of my book, and the associated online course, seeks to empower people to engage with science issues by presenting them through the lens of our daily experiences and in connection with other disciplines.
I write Science Books.
I am a science writer. My first book for the general public, Biology Everywhere: How the science of life matters to everyday life, was released in 2020. Since then, I created a Biology Everywhere Coursera MOOC, gave a TED talk, and created spin off content, including a TED-ED lesson and children’s book, On the River.
On the River was written as my HPLD writer in residence project in 2021. Biology Everywhere and On the River both won gold CIPA EVVY awards in their respective categories in 2022.
I am currently collaborating with Cengage on the biology non-majors textbook of tomorrow, Biology for Life: A Practical Guide to Our Living World. Biology for Life is an inclusive, accessible work that meets the needs of students in a post-COVID world.
Read biology everywherE.
This book is intended to bridge the gap between traditional biology classes and the practical biology knowledge needed in the real world. In each chapter, a different biological concept is examined and related to some real-world issue or experience in an effort to demonstrate why the science of life matters to your everyday experience.
This book is specifically designed either for those who already love biology and biology education, or for those who have had prior poor experiences with biology learning and are willing to give it another try. Where have you experienced biology today? Dive in and take a look. What you find may surprise you!
Available in hardcover and paperback.
For free local delivery/pickup in the Boulder, CO area, please contact Dr. Peffer to arrange a delivery/pickup before purchasing.
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Biology is memorizing terms, dissecting animals, and analyzing abstract concepts. Sound familiar? If so, you are like the majority of individuals outside the sciences when considering biology. Not without reason—research suggests that an introductory biology class has more vocabulary than a first semester language class. However, a working knowledge of biology is increasingly critical as we as a society grapple with big questions regarding topics such as ethics and regulation of genetic technology, conservation, and health. This book is intended to bridge the gap between traditional biology classes and the practical biology knowledge needed in the real world. In each chapter, a different biological concept is examined and related to some real-world issue or experience in an effort to demonstrate why the science of life matters to your everyday experience. The content includes subjects typically covered in an introductory biology class like ecology and genetics, and also unique interdisciplinary topics such as the relationship between arts and biology. This book is specifically designed either for those who already love biology and biology education, or for those who have had prior poor experiences with biology learning and are willing to give it another try. Where have you experienced biology today? Dive in and take a look. What you find may surprise you!
Let’s Go on the river.
Ellie wants to earn her Biology Adventurer River Badge with her brother Max. But Max doesn’t think he’s any good at science. Can Max overcome his nerves and earn his adventurer badge, too?
Free personalization/signature available. Please indicate in the order notes if you'd like your copy signed and personalized.
Available in hardback and paperback.
For free local delivery/pickup around Boulder, CO area, please contact Dr. Peffer to arrange a delivery/pickup before purchasing.