Helen Boswell

Professor of Biology Southern Utah University

  • Cedar City UT

Specializes in animal behavior and evolution, with research emphasis on teaching and outreach strategies.

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Biography

Dr. Helen Boswell has been a professor of biology at Southern Utah University since 1999. She teaches general biology, evolution, biomedical ethics, and the evolution of human sexuality, sharing the complexities of biology and its real-world applications. She is also the co-advisor to the outreach group SUU Animal Ambassadors, which teaches the public about animals, behavior, and the importance of animal welfare and conservation.

Along with several works of fiction including the YA Mythology trilogy, Dr. Boswell is the author of the nonfiction work My Fish Ate Your Fish: Can Evolution and Religion Play Nicely? Dr. Boswell earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in evolution and animal behavior from the University of Buffalo.

Industry Expertise

Education/Learning
Research
Writing and Editing

Areas of Expertise

Animal Behavior
Outreach Education
Evolutionary Biology
Scientific Literacy

Education

University at Buffalo

Ph.D.

Biological Sciences in Evolution and Animal Behavior

University of Buffalo

B.A.

Biological Studies

Accomplishments

STEM Outreach Award

Southern Utah University, 2023

Media Appearances

SUU Offers Mindfulness Mondays: Slowing Down During the Day

SUU News  online

2021-01-27

Associate Professor of Biology Helen Boswell-Taylor and Mental Health Support Peer Karina Nay teamed up to host the sessions to help students calm down and focus on their breathing.

“We wanted to make it convenient and include a short little activity they could do on their own time,” Boswell-Taylor said.

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Celebrated Authors Present at ‘WriteOut’ Camp

St. George News  online

2017-06-25

A new writing camp geared especially for youth ages 13-18 is slated to run Wednesday-Friday at Southern Utah University as the WriteOut Foundation brings several successful authors to town. The public is invited to attend some of the camp’s scheduled events Wednesday.

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Getting REAL about sex

SUU News  online

2016-12-02

Real Education Affecting Life (R.E.A.L) Peers had their annual Sexual Health Week all this week.

Nikki Gwin, the Wellness Coordinator for SUU, said the purpose of Sexual Health Week is to make taboo topics less so.

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Articles

Teaching evolution: attitudes & strategies of educators in Utah – an update 20 years later

Journal of Biological Education

2024

Previous research on evolution education in Utah college biology courses highlighted how frequently professors faced student challenges to evolution and examined the strategies they used to deal with those challenges. In the twenty years since that study, the population of Utah has become less religious and more diverse. Meanwhile, the US population has become more accepting of evolution.

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Reading Fiction in Biology Class to Enhance Scientific Literacy

The American Biology Teacher

2016

Students in the United States struggle with literacy skills, a problem that extends into their undergraduate education and beyond. Particularly in the sciences, reading assignments are usually singularly academic in nature and do not impart the importance of creativity and innovation. We propose a curriculum strategy and lesson plan that employs a “reading across the curriculum” approach to enhance literacy skills in biology students while simultaneously encouraging scientific discourse and creativity.

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Teaching Evolution: Attitudes & Strategies of Educators in Utah

The American Biology Teacher

2003

Method The author sent surveys to professors in biology fields at Utah universities. Participants reported gender, state where they earned their advanced degree, and current educational institution. They also reported number of years taught at the university level (< 3, 3–5, 6–10, 11–15, and> 15 years), if an evolution course was required of all majors in their program, and their opinions of whether an evolution course should be required. Participants rated replies on a scale of one to five for the following: importance of understanding ...

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Courses

BIOL 1610 General Biology I

This course provides a basic foundation in the areas of biochemistry, organization and function of cells as well as the transmission of genetic information.

BIOL 1620 General Biology II

This course introduces Science Majors to the study of biology and the diversity of life. It provides fundamental knowledge of morphological complexity, physiology, development, environmental adaptation, and the evolutionary history of life on Earth.

BIOL 1625 General Biology Lab II

Lab to accompany BIOL 1620.

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