Faculty Profile

Maggie Douglas

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies (2017)

Contact Information

douglasm@dickinson.edu

Kaufman Hall Room 105
717-254-8393
https://zoom.us/my/profdouglas

Office Hours for Fall 2024: Monday 10:30am-12:30pm
Office Hours for Fall 2024: Thursday 11:30am-12:30pm
Office Hours for Fall 2024: Friday 10:30am-12pm

Bio

Dr. Douglas studies the ecology of agricultural systems with an emphasis on the roles of insects and other invertebrates as friend and foe to food production. Her research employs eclectic methods ranging from field experiments to meta-analysis, and is oriented to practical application through dialogue with farmers, beekeepers, conservation organizations, and policy makers. Her interests include integrated pest management, biological control, soil conservation, ecotoxicology (esp. neonicotinoid insecticides), and socio-ecological dynamics of pesticide use.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • B.A., Oberlin College, 2004
  • M.S., The Pennsylvania State University, 2012
  • Ph.D., 2016

2024-2025 Academic Year

Fall 2024

ENST 305 Applied Entomology
Permission of Instructor Required. Insects are the most diverse and abundant animals on Earth. This course will introduce students to their biology and identification, interactions with human societies, and frameworks for their study, management, and conservation. Particular emphasis will be placed on Integrated Pest Management as a framework to guide the human-insect relationship. Class meetings will incorporate significant student participation including presentation and discussion of the scientific literature. Laboratories will provide students with opportunities to develop skills in entomological methods and discover the diversity of insects in the surrounding region.

ENSC 560 Spatial Analysis for Pesticide

Spring 2025

ENST 162 Integrative Environmental Sci
This course is an introduction to interdisciplinary environmental science. Students will learn to draw upon a variety of natural sciences to identify and address environmental challenges. Students will examine environmental issues analytically, learn to evaluate existing data, and begin to develop skills for acquiring new knowledge via the scientific method. They will be exposed to basic techniques for assessing environmental problems in lectures, laboratory exercises, and fieldwork. Three hours classroom and three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisite: 161

ENST 406 Pollinators and People
Over three quarters of flowering plant species rely on animal pollinators to create seeds and fruit. Pollinators therefore play an essential role in the regeneration of ecosystems and the production of human food. Unfortunately, evidence is building that many pollinator populations and species are in decline due to habitat degradation, invasive species, pesticide exposure, climate change, and other anthropogenic stressors. This senior seminar will critically examine relationships between pollinators and people by engaging with a range of interdisciplinary scholarship as well as the work of practitioners in the environmental field. Together we will explore evidence for pollinator decline and diverse approaches to harness human creativity for pollinator protection and recovery. Students will help to lead class discussion and develop a capstone project focused on a particular dimension of pollinator protection that speaks to their interests. Throughout, students will be encouraged to reflect on their education and experiences to articulate their place in the interdependent web of life.