Michael Zimmerman, Dean
College of Letters and ScienceBrief Biography of Dr. Zimmerman
Michael Zimmerman is Dean of the College of Letters and Science and Professor of Biology. He received his Ph.D. in Ecology from Washington University in St. Louis (1979) after earning an A.B. degree in Geography from the University of Chicago (1974). As an ecologist, Zimmerman focuses on plant-animal interactions, particularly those associated with pollination. His field work in montane Colorado and Australian heathland has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Philosophical Society, among others. Zimmerman also has a professional interest in science literacy in general and the evolution-creation controversy in particular. He has conducted survey research of various groups (college students, high school teachers, school board presidents, managing editors of newspapers and elected officials) to determine how widespread the acceptance of pseudoscience actually is. As a newspaper columnist specializing on scientific and environmental issues, Zimmerman's work (some of which is syndicated through the Los Angeles Times Syndicate) has appeared regularly on the op-ed pages of many newspapers nationwide. His book reviews on similar topics frequently appear in publications around the country. He has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is past editor of the Newsletter of the Ohio Center for Science Education. His book entitled Science, Nonscience, and Nonsense: Approaching Environmental Literacy was published in 1995 by Johns Hopkins University Press. A paperback version was released in 1997.
Dr. Zimmerman may be contacted at:
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
College of Letters and Science
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone:920-424-1210
Fax: 920-424-3125
E-mail: mz@uwosh.edu