|
Brian Plankis has always had three career
interests in his life: technology, science and education.
While most people would choose to focus on one, Brian's background
reflects his efforts to integrate all three into his career.
Brian received a BS in Natural Resources and Environmental
Science from Purdue University in 1994. After completing three
semesters toward an MS in Organic Chemistry, he switched focus
and completed an MS in Educational Technology, also from Purdue,
in 1997. Following his graduation Brian pursued system analyst
positions and is currently the project manager of a remote
imaging system for marine mammal observations at the Laboratory
for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology at Texas A&M
University at Galveston.
Brian is currently pursuing his doctorate in Instructional
Technology at the University of Houston. His dissertation
work focuses on effective utilization of instructional technology
to produce meaningful learning in science education. Brian
has conducted classroom teaching at the university level in
soil science, classroom technology integration and computer
literacy. Additionally, he has contributed to research efforts
in lake pollution and water clarity, the effects of groundcover
and soil type on soil erosion and chemical uptake and binding
in soil organic matter. Brian has authored several peer-reviewed
publications and conference presentations on a variety of
technological and educational topics.
Brian entered the aquarium hobby with freshwater tanks and
spent seven years keeping freshwater fish while breeding various
species of guppies, mollies and angelfish. He set up his first
saltwater tank, a 29-gallon, in 1999 and currently keeps a
75-gallon mixed reef tank. He also has spent over 200 hours
volunteering for the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois and
the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network in Galveston, Texas.
In addition to writing for Reefkeeping Magazine, Brian
has been an active member and a presenter for the Marine Aquarium
and Reef Society of Houston (MARSH) and was involved in the
Chicago Marine Aquarium Society (CMAS).
His aquarium interests include fish breeding,
invertebrate identification and reproduction, coral propagation
and reproduction. Many important issues facing the hobby today
interest him, including: educating new hobbyists, the hobby's
effects on natural reefs, the humane treatment of animals,
and research on live rock hitchhikers and invertebrates. He
continues to educate himself on these issues while attempting
to identify any ways that he can contribute.
When he's not involved with any of the above activities,
he enjoys spending time with his wonderfully supportive wife,
Christine, and playing a variety of sports.
You can communicate with Brian on his
author forum at Reef Central.
|
