UT Tyler Publishes ‘Journeys of a Field Biologist’ by Dr. Neil Ford
November 16, 2021
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Publishes ‘Journeys of a Field Biologist’ by Dr. Neil Ford
Follow @UTTyler TweetNovember 16, 2021
Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303
The University of Texas at Tyler has announced the release of a book authored by Professor Emeritus Neil Ford, Ph.D., titled “Journeys of a Field Biologist: Adventures With Snakes & Other Critters.’’
Published by the UT Tyler Press, the book is a compilation of stories about Ford’s international travels to conduct research as a herpetologist and professor of biology. Ford joined the UT Tyler faculty in 1979 and retired in 2020.
“We are pleased to present this new book by Dr. Ford, an internationally respected herpetologist and gifted educator who was always one of our most popular professors on campus,’’ said Amir Mirmiran, PhD., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Dr. Ford was an inspiration to UT Tyler students who enjoyed the honor of his courses, and many of his former students have gone on to become biologists, physicians, university professors and high school teachers.’’
Ford’s research primarily focuses on the behavior, life history and ecology of snakes. “Journeys of a Field Biologist’’ is based on his field notes from research trips beginning in the early 1970s.
“The stories I present in the book describe exciting or funny experiences that occurred, but I also use the stories to illustrate how scientific knowledge progresses in field studies and to suggest strategies for developing future biologists in the STEM fields,’’ Ford said.
The book highlights his collaboration with English researchers to save an endangered racer in the Caribbean, participation in an anaconda conservation project in Venezuela and investigation of snakes in Trinidad and French Guiana. Among other topics, he also discusses being featured in a Discovery Channel documentary about poisonous snakes.
“Everybody loves a snake story, and Ford has a wonderful collection of them — with fascinating talks of fieldwork in remote places with exotic snakes, diverse colleagues and colorful local characters,’’ said Rick Shine, PhD, a Ford colleague and professor emeritus of The University of Sydney.
“Journeys of a Field Biologist’’ represents field biology at its best, said Ford colleague Martha Crump, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of biology at Utah State University. “Neil shares the joys and challenges of fieldwork, the journey to becoming a field biologist and the profound value of interactions with students, mentors and other colleagues,’’ she said. “The book is a treasure for seasoned field biologists and aspiring field biologists alike.’’
Ford co-authored the book “The Garter Snakes: Evolution and Ecology’’ and has presented his research at scientific meetings in England, Sweden, Australia and South Africa. He has received several accolades, including the Southwestern Association of Naturalists’ Donald W. Tinkle Research Excellence Award and UT Tyler’s Mary John and Ralph Spence Distinguished Professorship.
For more information about “Journeys of a Field Biologist,’’ visit uttyler.edu/press.
With a mission to improve educational and healthcare outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs to 10,000 students. Through its alignment with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with innovative medical research, medical education and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler strives to fulfill our primary missions of education, research and service.