Mary Gunther
Research Interest
Before teaching Ms. Gunther spent 20 years as an Aviculturist at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Her main area of study was the Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica. She has worked with National Audubon's Project Puffin in Maine. Since becoming a teacher her focus has moved to education focusing on environmental science and study abroad programs.
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Teaching Philosophy
“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”
― T.H. White, The Once and Future King -
Current Courses
Fall 2019BIOL 101 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY (Fall 2019)Introduces students to the principles inherent to life, with a broad overview of the cell, the organism and the community in which living things exist. This web-enhanced course requires significant online work. Does not satisfy biology major requirements. One hour lecture, two hours online and two hours laboratory per week. Meets General Education IVA or IVB (Prior to Fall 2008: IIIA or IIIB).BIOL 105 BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY (Fall 2019)Introduces the non-biology major to the broad principles, fundamental ideas and new discoveries in biology that significantly affect the human being’s present and future existence. Relates the study of biology to the pressing social and cultural issues of today. Does not satisfy requirements within the major. Three hours per week. Meets General Education IVB.BIOL 213 ZOOLOGY (Fall 2019)Study of the biodiversity, structure and functions of animals and animal-like protists with emphasis on their evolutionary relationships. Designed for biology majors and minors and other science majors. Prerequisite: BIOL 210. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory per week. Meets General Education IVA or IVB (Prior to Fall 2008: IIIA or IIIB).ENVH 110 INTRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCI (Fall 2019)Introduction to the interactions of living organisms and the environment, with an emphasis on human interactions. Environmental science principles, consequences of environmental pollution and resource depletion that lead to environmental degradation are presented. Global environmental challenges, such as global stratospheric ozone depletion and biodiversity loss are examined, along with air and water pollution and population issues. May not be used to satisfy requirements for the environmental health science major. Three hours per week. Meets General Education IVB (Prior to Fall 2008: IIIB).Spring 2020BIOL 105 BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY (Spring 2020)Introduces the non-biology major to the broad principles, fundamental ideas and new discoveries in biology that significantly affect the human being’s present and future existence. Relates the study of biology to the pressing social and cultural issues of today. Does not satisfy requirements within the major. Three hours per week. Meets General Education IVB.BIOL 213 ZOOLOGY (Spring 2020)Study of the biodiversity, structure and functions of animals and animal-like protists with emphasis on their evolutionary relationships. Designed for biology majors and minors and other science majors. Prerequisite: BIOL 210. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory per week. Meets General Education IVA or IVB (Prior to Fall 2008: IIIA or IIIB).ENVH 110 INTRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCI (Spring 2020)Introduction to the interactions of living organisms and the environment, with an emphasis on human interactions. Environmental science principles, consequences of environmental pollution and resource depletion that lead to environmental degradation are presented. Global environmental challenges, such as global stratospheric ozone depletion and biodiversity loss are examined, along with air and water pollution and population issues. May not be used to satisfy requirements for the environmental health science major. Three hours per week. Meets General Education IVB (Prior to Fall 2008: IIIB).
- Artistic Highlights
- Service Activities and Community Relations
Volunteer for National Audubon Society's Project Puffin and Hog Island camps - 1990 to present. Spend weeks each summer either living on an island collecting seabird data or working at one of the camps on Hog Island. to explore further visit projectpuffin.org.
- External Collaboration Highlights
AZA: Association of Zoos and Aquariums - member since 1990. Presented many papers, posters and served on many committees over the year. Recent area of focus has been on educational collaborations between zoos and colleges. .
Currently working with the Salisbury Zoo to coordinate and develop research programs between the University and the Zoo. - Artistic Highlights