Meet the Faculty • 3
Interested in Environmental Studies? Want to know more about Sustainability? Do concepts like hybrid technology, alternative fuels, conservation, and recycling get you excited? Let me introduce you to Dr. Michael Daley, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Lasell College.
Michael is a forest ecologist with interests in global change biology. His research examines the interaction of vegetation and its physical environment. He's also a very interesting guy!
Personally, one of Michael's favorite activities is mountain climbing. "I am a member of the Adirondack 46ers," says Michael. "To gain membership to this organization, I climbed all 46 mountains in the Adirondack Mountains of New York that are above 4000 feet in elevation. My next goal is to complete the Northeast 111. These are the 111 peaks in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine that are above 4000 feet. So far, I have completed 84 of these peaks. I particularly enjoy the challenge of climbing in the winter. My most exciting climb was in the winter of 2006 when I joined an expedition to climb Mount Katahdin in Maine. Going up the Saddle Trail depending on crampons and an ice axe was a little hairy but an incredible experience. I look forward to the opportunity to guide Lasell students into the mountains to explore what the Northeast has to offer."
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Michael is also a huge hockey fan. Growing up in upstate New York near the Canadian border he became a supporter of the Montreal Canadians (sorry Bruins fans). And he added, "I run a top-notch fantasy hockey team that is always in contention for the RSHL Cup." Michael continues to play hockey in the Boston area. He is a member of a team in the New England Senior Hockey League and he travels to tournaments twice a year to play with friends from the Camp Pok-O where he was a counselor.
At Camp Pok-O, he worked as an outdoor educator in the spring and a camp counselor in the summer for three seasons. "This experience really shaped my interest in the environment and conservation issues," Michael stated. "While leading trips into the remote wilderness of the Adirondacks, I developed a strong appreciation for nature."
Recently Michael picked up the sport of triathlon. "I really enjoy the training and the culture associated with this sport," he said. "I have competed in the Mooseman Olympic Distance Triathlon in New Hampshire, the Musselman Half-Ironman in New York, and the Shelburne Athletic Club Sprint Triathlon in Vermont. I took this summer off to spend time with my newborn son but I look forward to training again for races next summer." In June, Michael and his wife had their first baby, Ethan.
As a biology student at Siena College, Michael explored and studied nature. "I had a great ecology professor that led me in studies of stream fish, ducks, barnacles, frogs, and other exciting aspects of our ecosystems." He added, "My trip to the tropical forests of Trinidad & Tobago during my senior year reaffirmed that I wanted a career working with nature and the environment."
Michael spent two years working as a middle school science teacher in New Hampshire. "I knew I wanted to remain in education, but I really wanted to become a scientist and study our natural ecosystems," he remembered. "This desire shaped my decision to pursue a PhD at Boston University. I am really excited about my current position at Lasell. It allows me to engage in ecosystem research, teach about the environment, and work with community organizations. I hope I can inspire students to take action and bring about change to improve the condition of our natural environment."
Visit Michael's blog to see what he's currently up to on campus at Green at Lasell. While there, learn about his work with Lasell College's Green Campus Initiative.
Michael Daley is also a scholar of K-12 science education. He has worked with the JASON Project and co-authored several books including Disappearing Wetlands: Texas Instruments Activity Book & CD and JASON Science Adventure: Aquatic Field Studies.
In 2004, Professor Daley was awarded a National Science Foundation fellowship to pursue research on the impact of the invasive species hemlock woolly adelgid on New England forests. He has presented this work at professional meetings of the Ecological Society of America and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations. He has published findings in journals including The American Naturalist, Canadian Journal of Forest Research and Tree Physiology.
Michael is committed to the learning and teaching of environmental science. He states: “Global environmental change is an unprecedented threat to life on earth. I believe my role in education is to help students understand the connection between their actions and the health of our planet. With this understanding, students are prepared to help reduce the ecological footprint of humans on the planet."