Science is the study of the natural world based on facts learned though experimentation and observation. As a discipline it requires curiosity, creativity, imagination and focus. It uses the tools from many other disciplines to develop, present and share ideas about the world and borrows clues from many other disciplines to identify areas for investigation. While science as a whole is divided into two interrelated sub-disciplines – physical science which focuses on physical phenomena and life science which focuses on life and living systems – collectively the areas of science improve our understanding of the world and how it works.
If living things, even life itself, fascinates you, biology may be the field for you. From plants (botany) to animals (zoology), human anatomy to nutrition this is where our understanding of the living world comes together. Plus, our area provides many environmental challenges that allow faculty and students to apply their knowledge in the field (and marshes and creeks!). Learn more about how you can join those efforts in the Environmental Center.
Students interested in life sciences may earn an Arts and Sciences Transfer (A.S.) degree in one of several options. Our department also offers credit certificates in the environmental sciences. Learn more about our areas of study:
Debra Bartlett, Ph.D., professor
410-777-1851
dbartlett@aacc.edu
HLSB 272C
Amy Allen-Chabot, Ph.D., professor
410-777-2844
amallenchabot@aacc.edu
HLSB 272X
Paul Bushmann, Ph.D., professor
410-777-2270
pjbushmann@aacc.edu
HLSB 272R
Mickey Dehn, associate professor
410-777-2706
mdehn1@aacc.edu
HLSB 272L
Tammy Domanski, Ph.D., professor
410-777-2274
tldomanski@aacc.edu
HLSB 272Q
Mark Farinha, Ph.D., professor
410-777-1287
mafarinha@aacc.edu
HLSB 272R
Sandra Fox-Moon, Ph.D., assistant professor
410-777-2265
sfoxmoon@aacc.edu
HLSB 272V
Lauren Gillespie, Ph.D., assistant professor
410-777-2251
lmgillespie@aacc.edu
HLSB 272M
Mary Holden-Musser, Ph.D., assistant professor
410-777-2841
meholdenmusser@aacc.edu
HLSB 272V
Karen Israel, Ph.D., professor
410-777-2278
keisrael@aacc.edu
HLSB 272X
Susan Lamont, Ph.D., professor
410-777-1219
srlamont@aacc.edu
HLSB 272S
Harry Li, assistant professor
410-777-2178
hzli@aacc.edu
HLSB 272S
Kelly Livernoche, assistant professor
410-777-2348
kmlivernoche@aacc.edu
HLSB 272M
Carrie Long, associate professor
410-777-1258
clong9@aacc.edu
HLSB 272W
Seth Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor
410-777-2335
shmiller1@aacc.edu
HLSB 272K
Gregory Schrader, Ph.D., professor
410-777-1216
grschrader@aacc.edu
HLSB 272L
Julie Takacs, Ph.D., associate professor
410-777-2123
jtakacs1@aacc.edu
HLSB 272W
Benjamin Weibell, Ph.D., professor
410-777-2845
bjweibell@aacc.edu
HLSB 272K
Krista White, Ph.D., associate professor
410-777-1290
kywhite1@aacc.edu
HLSB 272Q
Michael Norman, laboratory manager
Biology
410-777-2554
cmnorman@aacc.edu
HLSB 219
Kendel Hannon, laboratory coordinator
Biology
410-777-1977
kmhannon@aacc.edu
HLSB 211B
Philippe "Phil" Espitallier, technical specialist
GBTC
410-777-2997
pjespitallier@aacc.edu
GBTC 304
Steve Lannon, technical specialist
AMIL
410-777-2022
stlannon@aacc.edu
AMIL 402
Ashley Danus, technical specialist
Biology
410-777-1268
andanus@aacc.edu
HLSB 119
Joseph Quagraine, technical specialist
Biology
410-777-2466
jquagraine@aacc.edu
HLSB 319
Tara Williamson, technical specialist
Biology
410-777-1254
tawilliamson@aacc.edu
HLSB 311
Kelli McBride
410-777-2281
kkmcbride@aacc.edu
HLSB 272G
Rachel Ryckman, administrative coordinator
410-777-2643
reryckman@aacc.edu
HLSB 272A/DRGN 237
Anthony Anderson, program assistant
410-777-2105
akanderson@aacc.edu
HLSB 272
James Seeders, program assistant
410-777-2108
jeseeders@aacc.edu
DRGN 238
If you're taking a science course, the following resources are for you. They were developed to help you complete your science course requirements successfully.
Located in Dragun Room 120, (410-777-6370), the Science Computer Lab has about 20 computers equipped with software to support a variety of science courses. Internet access is also available. This lab can be reserved for class use by your instructor.
The Biology and Environmental Club is a place for those passionate about the life sciences to grow, learn and experience biology together. We do various events related to the sciences such as field trips, guest speakers and on-campus projects.
Led by Director Tammy Domanski, the Environmental Center at AACC supports the college's mission through applied research projects designed and led by faculty to address local environmental necessities. You have the opportunity to participate in these projects through collaborative work that assists in the development of solutions to a variety of contemporary environmental problems.
Maryland has been described as America in miniature because of its great diversity of natural resources. The types of environmental challenges confronting Maryland's people, government, industries and civic organizations are very similar to those confronting several areas of the country.
Field trips are paused for right now, but we hope to get back to our normal pattern as described below soon.
Several of our courses regularly have field trips as part of the curriculum. For example, each fall and spring term, oceanography, meteorology, Earth-space science and environmental science students are given the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities during three-hour educational cruises on a skipjack or a schooner sailing vessel. These cruises are coordinated through the Living Classrooms Foundation and are usually conducted in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Once on board the sailing vessels, students participate in several activities including raising and lowering the sails, trawling for fish, taking water quality measurements, deploying a plankton net and investigating oyster anatomy. In addition, students are exposed to interesting stories and landmarks surrounding Baltimore’s Inner Harbor including historical Fort McHenry.
We’re here to help.
School of Science, Technology and Education
Department of Biology
Join a Supplemental Instruction study group and improve your confidence, develop a stronger grasp of course material and learn key study strategies from your peers.
Maggie Nester has gotten to do hands-on research in the Environmental Center. She even co-wrote an article in the Journal of Emerging Scholarship, AACC’s undergraduate research journal, about her work with horseshoe crabs.
Read Maggie's story