BA in Individualized Studies Program
My intellectual world view (subject to change): Despite my time at law school and the legal work that I have done since, I still think of myself as a biologist first of all. However, since biology means the "study of life," that job description encompasses a lot of territory. In fact, over the years I have studied, researched, and/or written on neurobiology, ecology, evolutionary theory (yes, Darwin is one of my intellectual heroes), genetics (especially how it interacts with the environment) and conservation biology. I strongly believe that the "scientific method" of developing hypotheses and models, testing them in the real world, and rejecting them when they fail to explain how nature works, is the outstanding way to discover the workings of the world (humans included). In fact, I would argue that whether your interests are in science, literature, the arts, or anything else, that we are all "scientists" trying to discover the secrets of the universe by creating and testing our own models of life. Given that, I love to work with people who want to explore how they can use the scientific approach to study whatever interests them, as well as those who want to show me that there are other ways to study life!
My personal history: My journey started in the mountains and deserts of the western U.S. where I developed my ties with nature. It then took me east to Chicago where I learned about the intense human interactions of life in the big city - and where I met and married my wife. Together we kept going east, first to Washington D.C. and then, for six wonderful years, to as far east you can be and still be in North America, the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland. It is in Newfoundland, an isolated island with its own, distinct culture, that I learned about the ways that science; culture, law, and economics can interact to cause and cure real-world problems. In the case of Newfoundland, the collapse of the cod fishery in the 1990s was both an ecological and cultural catastrophe. The latter because it tore from Newfoundlanders that which gave them their identity; their day-to-day interaction with the sea. On a personal level, the collapse of the fishery also led to the loss of the money that paid for us to stay in Newfoundland. So our journey continued with our migration to northern New England nine years ago and my continued work of integrating science, law, and ethics for environmental protection; as a university teacher and researcher, and as a consultant to environmentally friendly businesses and environmental groups. Besides this work, I have co-written two books and I am starting on my first solo book project - a personal ecological and cultural history of North America from west to east. The working title, "Searching for Paradise" comes from the name of the last village in Newfoundland that we lived - and gives you an idea of how I still think of that place.
Miscellaneous notes: Until I was 10, I lived in a small northern California town where "diversity" meant that your family went to a different protestant church than mine. Thankfully, my wife's parents came to North America from India and provide me with my only truly personal experience with ethnic and cultural diversity; as well as a lot of good Indian food and an interest in the similarities between Hinduism and some modern theories of cosmology. My real job for the last several years has been as my son's manager and supporter in his various activities; including my stint as a youth hockey coach. We have one dog and two cats who interact in an ecologically stable (if not too friendly) fashion.
Educational Background: Ph.D. in ecology/evolutionary biology from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) in which I spent many peaceful hours under the ground in the caves of West Virginia doing my field research. J.D. and Masters in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School where I learned that law can be a tool for justice or an instrument of oppression; depending on the people who are using it. B.A. in biology from the University of Chicago where I took wonderful courses in, among other things, advanced calculus, population biology, ecology, transcendence in modern western literature, and ancient Mediterranean history.
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Ross Jones, MSEL, JD, Ph.D