Margaret Wilch's talents as a teacher and the quality of her character have earned her the admiration and respect of her peers, her students and science faculty members at the University of Arizona.
Wilch, a biology teacher at Tucson High Magnet School, has involved hundreds of high school students in authentic science research in UA laboratories, inspired many to pursue science careers and has helped develop exemplary science outreach programs for students and teachers.
"Without Margaret, I don't know that I ever would have become involved in science or ever have seen science as a possible career for myself," wrote Angela Schlegel, now a biochemistry major at the UA. "Margaret has been a huge role model for me both in science and as a person in general. She has had a direct impact on the direction of my life and one that has brought me to a wonderful pursuit of science."
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For her amazing abilities at and dedication to introducing high school students to biological research and helping them pursue careers in science, she has won numerous awards. In May 2012, she was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by the UA College of Science.
I've known Margaret Wilch since 1996, when she enrolled in a professional-development class for teachers that I taught on evolution.
Since then, I've worked with her on a number of projects. We created a professional-development course for teachers that is a companion to the UA College of Science's spring lecture series. Margaret has co-taught this course six times on six different subjects with three different UA faculty members.
Our second collaboration was developing the Science and Nature in Tandem for Youth (SANITY) program, a summer field ecology experience for high school students taught in the Chiricahua Mountains of Southeastern Arizona. SANITY's purpose is inspiring students to pursue biology research at Tucson High and beyond.
Another of Margaret's major accomplishments is Honors Research Methods, a yearlong high-school course she created and has taught since 1995. The students conduct biological research in UA laboratories under the guidance of faculty mentors.
Her students have won prestigious awards at science fairs. Many of her students won four-year scholarships to the UA from the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair and have become finalists at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
I find that I always turn to Margaret for her expertise in creating rich and rewarding experiences in science for students and for teachers. I know if Margaret is involved with the design and implementation of a program, it will be rewarding, educational and highly worthwhile for both teachers and students.
About the scientist
Katrina Mangin is the director of Science Education Outreach in the University of Arizona's department of ecology and evolutionary biology, where she earned her doctorate in 2001. A marine biologist, she enjoys taking UA students to explore tide pools in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico. She also teaches a summer course for undergraduates and secondary-school teachers in the Galapagos Islands and runs Marine Discovery, a hands-on marine biology field trip to the UA campus for schoolchildren.
Experience Science
• Marine Discovery: marinediscovery.arizona.edu/home.html
• Teachers Voices with Margaret Wilch and Katrina Mangin: radio.azpm.org/p/teachers-voices/2010/7/16/840-teachers-voices-margaret-wilch-katrina-mangin/
• Galapagos marine ecology: eebweb.arizona.edu/courses/galapagos
