UC Project STEP :: Participants > Graduate Fellows

Previous Degrees
Masters - Biology
Wright State University, Department of Biological Sciences
Bachelors – Geology
Eastern Michigan University, Department of Geology, Honors College

Biography
Tony Kramer is a third year graduate student in the department of geology, pursuing a second masters in invertebrate paleontology. Having started his career working for an archaeologist, and at an air and space museum, then seeking extensive course work in geology, chemistry, botany, ecology, invertebrate zoology, paleontology, physics, geography, and urban and regional planning, Tony’s passion is answering the big questions with an interdisciplinary approach. Joining Project STEP in the fall of 2006, Tony is using this as a chance to experience science education in a high school classroom. Having taught traditional and field geology, ecology, and education classes for three universities, as well as alternative environmental education for the ORSANCO River Education Foundation, Tony sees Project STEP as the important missing piece of his education to become a better science educator in general. Tony’s research has taken him all over the continental US and gulf islands working with both modern crustaceans and half-billion year old arthropods to expand our understanding and use of arthropod body forms to provide important indicators for environmental quality and stressors in both the modern and ancient. More recent works have involved fisheries and national park management in the Bahamas and Cambrian Laggerstatten excavations in Utah. Tony is working hard to strengthen connections amongst schools, zoos, aquaria, researchers, and regulatory agencies in the hopes of providing a more realistic and tangible awareness of science throughout all levels of the education system, both at home and abroad. On the ultra-rare non-work time, Tony enjoys painting, sculpting, writing, nature photography, hiking, diving, gardening, and animal husbandry.