Richard A. Niesenbaum
Professor of Biology; Director of Sustainability Studies | Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA, UNITED STATES
Professor Niesenbaum teaches laboratory and field orientated classes in Plant Ecology, Botany and Sustainability Studies.
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Biography
I am a Professor in the Biology Department and Director of Sustainability Studies at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. I teach laboratory and field oriented classes in Plant Ecology, Botany, and Sustainability Studies including a course regularly taught in Costa Rica. In my lab we focus on two distinct, but related areas: plant ecology and conservation biology and sustainable development. In plant ecology, we have worked on pollination and fruit set; genetics of inbreeding; mechanisms of non-random mating in plants; sex ratio variation; plant-animal interactions, and plant conservation biology. With current research funding from The National Science Foundation and Merck/AAAS, we are now primarily focused on the ecological, genetic, and chemical factors that influence insect herbivory in Lindera. This includes an analysis of "top-down" and "bottom-up" ecological factors, and the use of our field gas chromatograph (Z-nose), microsattelite analysis, and HPLC. In the area of conservation biology and sustainable development, we havecollaborated with the International Programs Department at the Rodale Institute on measuring the success of sustainable forestry practice in northern Guatemala, and on developing ways to effectively link social, economic, and ecological indicators in the evaluation of international conservation and development projects. I have been working in the Costa Rican community of Las Juntas de Abangares for 15 years on ecoeducational tourism development, public health and environmental studies on the effects of local gold mining, and the development of alternative fuels. I currently have a book in progress on the environmental, cultural and public health aspects of artisinal goldmining with photographer Joseph Elliot. We also work with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in our studies of ecology and conservation. We also conduct research at the interface between environment and human/public health, and have assessed interdisciplinary education, short-term study abroad, and community based environmental education. I am currently writing a book for Oxford Univeristy Press entitled Sustainable Solutions: Problem Solving for Current and Future Generations.
I Chair Muhlenberg's Sustainability and Campus Tree Committees, and Co-Direct the Office of Campus Sustainability. I am a Fair Trade Coffee advocate and addict, and I frequently play late-night ice hockey.
Areas of Expertise (5)
Sustainability
Ecology
Botany
Environmental Attitudes
Medicinal and Nutritional Uses of Plants
Accomplishments (9)
The Class of 1932 Research Professor (professional)
2014 - 2015
The Spira Honoree for Distinguished Teaching, Muhlenberg College (professional)
2012 - 2013
The Donald B. Hoffman Research Fellowship, Muhlenberg College (professional)
2006
Lehigh Valley "Mover and Shaper", Lehigh Valley Magazine (professional)
2005
The Class of 1932 Research Professor (professional)
2003 - 2004
The Donald and Anne Shire Distinguished Teaching Professor (professional)
1999 - 2000
Muhlenberg College Bridgebuilders Award for support of students with disabilities (professional)
1998 & 2000
The Huebner Global Education and Awareness Award, Muhlenberg College (professional)
1997
The Robert C. Williams Faculty Prize for Distinguished Scholarship (professional)
1996
Education (3)
University of Pennsylvania: Ph.D., Biology / Ecology
University of Connecticut: M.S., Biological Oceanography
University of Pennsylvania: B.A, Biology and Environmental Studies
Affiliations (1)
- UrbanEcoFish : Principal
Media Appearances (3)
Poison ivy becoming a more prevalent problem for landscapers, residents
WFMZ-TV online
2015-06-10
"Poison ivy is shade tolerant but it thrives in the sun," said Richard Niesenbaum, a biology professor and director of sustainability studies program at Muhlenberg College. He also said increased greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide from climate change causes poison ivy to thrive. Niesenbaum said fragmented forests are only helping to fuel the high allergy plant. "It thrives on edge of shaded areas. As we chop down and build suburbs and develop areas we end up with more and more and more edge and less contagious forests. Creating more habitat for poison ivy," he said...
"Black diamonds" aplenty in Luzerne County
WFMZ - TV online
2015-06-11
"To say they are a clean fossil fuel, yes they're a cleaner form of coal but it still is releasing more carbon dioxide than any other fossil fuel," said Richard Niesenbaum, the director of sustainability studies at Muhlenberg College. "If it's not being burned it's not contributing to air pollution and global climate change."...
Young Americans less interested in the environment than previous generations
The Washington Post online
2012-03-15
At Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania students are running a biodiesel plant on campus and building “permaculture,” or indefinitely sustainable, gardens in their back yards. They are less likely to write a letter to their member of Congress or to try to change things on a global level, said Richard Niesenbaum, a biology professor at Muhlenberg. They also don’t like to label themselves as “environmentalists. In a lot of ways, they’re more pragmatic,” he said...
Research Focus (1)
Teaching and Research Interests
Plant-insect interactions; conservation biology and sustainable development
Courses (6)
BIO 108
Plants and People
BIO 150
Principles of Biology
SUS 405
Sustainable Solutions
SUS 350
Community Sustainability in Costa Rica
BIO 260
Field Botany and Plant Ecology
BIO 262
Cultural and Economic Botany
Articles (5)
Extending the stay: Using community-based research and service learning to enhance short-term study abroad
Journal of Studies in International Education
2005 ABSTRACT: Short-term study abroad (STSA) is an important alternative for students not likely to participate in semester-long or yearlong international study abroad programs. The authors present an assessment of their short-term study abroad program, Environmental and ...
The effects of pollen load size and donor diversity on pollen performance, selective abortion, and progeny vigor in Mirabilis jalapa (Nyctaginaceae)
American Journal of Botany
1999 ABSTRACT: The influence of pollen competitive environment on pollen performance (pollen germination, stigmatic penetration, and pollen tube growth rate), the maturation or abortion of initiated fruit, seed size, and seedling vigor was explored by manipulating the size and ...
Light or Pollen--Seasonal Limitations on Female Reproductive Success in the Understory Shrub Lindera Benzoin
Journal of Ecology
1993 ABSTRACT: 1. Light, pollen, and leaf area were manipulated to examine the role of each of these as determinants of reproductive success in the understory shrub Lindera benzoin. 2. Fruit set was significantly greater in the sun than in the shade, and was reduced in both habitats by shading branches. 3. Supplemental pollination added significantly more viable pollen to stigmas, but plants never responded with increased fruit set, even under conditions of high light availability...
Sex ratio, components of reproduction, and pollen deposition in Lindera benzoin (Lauraceae)
American Journal of Botany
1992 ABSTRACT: Sex ratio; flower, pollen, ovule, and fruit production; pollen deposition; and pollinator abundance were measured in populations of the dioecious shrub Lindera benzoin occurring in sun and shade habitats. Sex ratio was 1: 1 in both the sun and shade. Flower ...
The maintenance of species diversity by disturbance
Quarterly Review of Biology
1989 ABSTRACT: Hypotheses that relate disturbance to the production and maintenance of species diversity are reviewed. The hypotheses have been classified traditionally by the effect of the disturbance on the community: Those that involve selective mortality, which maintains the ...
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