Reading the Book of Nature

In addition to this research and writing, I have presented widely the last five years on
topics such as the representation of urban wilderness, the character of nature in cities, urban and
suburban sustainability, water in the urban environment, and ecological literacy. All of these
concerns have found expression in my scholarly work, popular writings (in newspapers,
magazines, and the web), professional talks, and public lectures. I thus approach the life and
writings of May Watts and other scientist-writers quite differently than I might've, say, ten or
fifteen years ago, when I would've primarily focused on the ways in which her writings fuse
literature and science in artful and effective ways. That they do -- but now I'm just as concerned
with how writers like Watts educate their readers, challenge our assumptions about science and
nature (especially in urban areas), connect with a wide audience, and combine their artistic
productions with environmental advocacy and conservation work.
Prior Experience in Carrying Out Related Projects
My research and publication record amply demonstrates my capability in planning,
researching, writing, and publishing articles and books similar in scope and approach to the
projects discussed in this proposal. Of particular note are my two most recent scholarly essay
publications: "Unearthing Urban Nature: Loren Eiseley's Explorations of City and Suburb"
(2012) and "Empty Lots and Secret Places: Leonard Dubkin's Exploration of Urban Nature in
Chicago" (2011). Each of these two ecocritical studies assesses how naturalist-writers grapple
with, interpret, and represent the various manifestations of nature in the city; for Eiseley, the
well-known essayist on matters anthropological and evolutionary, the setting was usually New
York or Philadelphia and its suburbs; for Dubkin, the now-obscure but once locally notable
naturalist and journalist, it was Chicago. The Dubkin project, one I initiated from scratch during
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