Colleen Hitchcock
Degrees
University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D.Boston College, B.S.
Expertise
Community and Citizen Science, Ecology, Evolution and Conservation.Profile
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My academic interests are focused on the role of citizen science in ecological inquiry and conservation biology specifically relating to studies of biodiversity, conservation, phenology, and climate change. I am interested in both the power of the public in scientific research and the application of community/citizen science research as a model for learning by students. I teach a variety of courses for science and environmental studies majors as well as for students outside of the sciences including biodiversity connections, introductory ecology, citizen science, conservation biology, and animal behavior. All of my courses include community/citizen science as opportunities for students to engage and facilitate research alongside the public and scientists. I also work as a founding member of the City Nature Challenge: Boston Area steering committee to engage the greater Boston community in urban biodiversity research (see citynaturechallenge.org for more information on the international effort).
Courses Taught
| BIOL | 16a | Evolution and Biodiversity |
| BIOL | 17b | Conservation Biology |
| BIOL | 23a | Ecology |
| BIOL | 39b | Biology of Global Climate Change |
| BIOL | 50b | Animal Behavior |
| BIOL | 91g | Introduction to Research Practice |
| BISC | 11a | Biodiversity Connections |
| EBIO | 33b | Citizen Science: Bridging Science, Education and Advocacy |
Awards and Honors
Provost Research Grant (2020 - 2021)
Brandeis University Teaching Innovation (General Education) Grant (2018 - 2019)
Brandeis University Experiential Teaching and Learning Grant: Citizen Science Facilitation Teaching Assitants (2017 - 2018)
Brandeis University Experiential Teaching and Learning Grant: ‘Deis does Citizen Science (2017 - 2018)
Brandeis University Open and Affordable Education Resources Grant: Using Historic and Contemporary Photographs to Facilitate Place-Based Understanding of Climate Change (2017)
Brandeis University Provost’s Innovation in Teaching Grant: Citizen Science: Bridging Science, Education and Advocacy (2015)
Reverend John R. Trzaska, S.J. Award, Boston College (Faculty Leadership and Mentorship Award) (2014)
Scholarship
Corey T. Callaghan, Ian Ozeroff, Colleen Hitchcock, Mark Chandler. "apitalizing on opportunistic citizen science data to monitor urban biodiversity: A multi-taxa framework." Biological Conservation 251. (2020).
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Citizen Science in Higher Education: Classrooms, Campus, and Communities." Citizen Science Association Annual Conference. Raleigh, NC. 03/15/19.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Citizen Science: Searching for Species with Seek.." Museum of Science. Science on Stage. October 2019.
Studer, Marie, Colleen Hitchcock, Aimee Bonanno, Mark Chandler, Rob Stevenson, Eric Baitchman, Cynthia Mead, Tracy Barbaro, Zoe Foster, Erin Kelly. "Synergies Between the City Nature Challenge Bioblitz and Building the Boston Biodiversity Consortium." Citizen Science Association. Raleigh, NC. 03/14/19.
Studer, Marie,, Tracy Barbaro, Anne Haywood, Colleen Hitchcock, Aimee Lorenz. "Using the City Nature Challenge and iNaturalist to Inspire K-12 Hands-on Learning and Build Lifelong Learning Skills." Citizen Science Association. Raleigh, NC. 03/16/19.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Advancing Ocean Literacy with Citizen Science." New England Ocean Science Education Consortium Conference. Boston, MA. 11/16/18.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Citizen Science and Girl Scouts." Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts Annual Volunteer Conference. Quincy, MA. October 2017.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Citizen Science at the College Level: Learning, Research, and Mentoring (Organized Workshop)." Citizen Science Association Conference. Minnesota. May 2017.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Citizen Science in Teaching and Learning." Boston Biodiversity Consortium. Zoo New England. October 2017.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Exploring Urban Biodiversity with the City Nature Challenge and iNaturalist." University of Massachusetts Invited Panelist Considering Urban Sustainability Symposium. Boston, MA. 10/15/18.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Fostering Collaboration among Biology, Environmental Studies, and Education Undergraduates through Citizen Science." Citizen Science Association Conference. Minnesota. May 2017.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Photographs for Understanding Climate Change and Biodiversity Patterns." Brandeis CAST: Information & Inspiration: Why Art and Science Need Each Other. Brandeis. March 2017.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Taking Note - Citizen Science to Science Learning." British Ecological Society - Citizen Science in Teaching and Learning Workshop. Participated Remotely. 10/07/18.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Taking Note: Connecting Citizen Science to Science Learning." Arnold Arboretum Botany Blast. February 2018.
Hitchcock, Colleen, M. Studer and J. Stutz. "Citizen Science and iNaturalist: Open Science Options to Gain Skills and Knowledge." Massachusetts Association of Biology Teachers Annual Meeting. Framingham State University. March 11, 2017.
Hitchcock, Colleen. "Contextualizing Climate Change: Linking a regional case study with citizen science research in the classroom." ESA: Life Discovery – Doing Science Education Conference. Baltimore, MA. March 2016.
Ernest H Williams, Sharon B Stichter, Colleen Hitchcock, Caroline A Polgar, Richard B Primack. "PHENOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF LYCAENID BUTTERFLIES IN MASSACHUSETTS." Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 68. 68 (2014): 167-174.
Caroline A. Polgar, R.B. Primack, E.H. Williams, Sharon Stichter, Colleen Hitchcock. "Climate effects on the flight period of Lycaenid butterflies in Massachusetts." Biological Conservation 160. (2013): 25-31.
Caroline Polgar, Richard B. Primack, Ernest H. Williams, Colleen Hitchcock, Sharon Stichter. "The effect of temperature and precipitation on the timing of the adult flight period of Lycenid butterflies in Massachusetts." 97th ESA Annual Convention 2012, Oregon. 08/5/2012-09/10/2012.