How to be
David Clements, Ph.D.
to 17 years’ worth of trinity western students, biology and environmental studies professor David Clements, Ph.D., has been a liaison to the mysterious world of plants. It doesn’t take long for those students to recognize that, like plants, their professor has a lot going on beneath the surface.
In his teaching, Clements strives to communicate the relevance and profundity of subjects like threatened ecosystems and invasive species. But his methods are not always conventional. Take, for example, his semester-end musical reviews, in which he dons the guise of Elvis, Sting, Phil Collins, Bono, or any number of characters while covering pop songs with rewritten, biologically-themed lyrics. But Clements’ inventive instructional methods don’t stop there. Through research trips to TWU’s Environmental Study Area on Salt Spring Island, BC, or regular travel studies to Hawaii, Clements imparts to his students that environmental studies is about making a positive difference in an ecosystem.
- originally wanted to be:
An entomologist - current field of study:
Weed biology, including Persicaria perfoliata—the invasive mile-a-minute weed in China - favourite hobby:
Bird-watching - hidden talent:
Has written hundreds of poems - notable commendation:
“Stewardship Volunteer of the Year – 2009,” Langley Environmental Partners Society - most-loved album:
U2, The Joshua Tree - favourite book:
Eragon by Christopher Paolini - favourite class to teach:
Tropical botany in Hawaii - extracurricular activity:
Columnist for Langley Times “Green Beat” - most unusual job:
Studying grizzly bears in Northern Alberta - favourite animal:
Tiger
by Jay Jameson ’08
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