Shelbie Harris
Staff Writer
Idaho State University ecology professor Terry Bowyer has a knack for being successful not only “in the sticks” but in the classroom as well.
Over a period of 10 years at ISU, Bowyer has worked with more than 30 graduate students, half of which are doctorate level.
For Bowyer what matters most is the involvement of not only classroom interaction but also the ability to conduct biological research with the students.
“It’s not just teaching. As a professor I get to do both research and teaching,” said Bowyer. “I’ve always enjoyed teaching but I especially like interacting with graduate students. It gives me an opportunity to do science and to teach at the same time.”
Before coming to ISU, Bowyer spent 18 years at the Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Spending hours outdoors as an avid angler and hunter initially inspired Bowyer to pursue a career in ecology.
Bowyer especially loves hunting upland birds and waterfowl with his three canine companions, including a father-son team of Labrador retrievers, and a 2-year-old Boykin spaniel.
“The old guy is 11 so he’s going downhill a bit, and his son’s six and then I have a 2-year-old Boykin spaniel.” Bowyer said. “Now he is something else. He’s small, about 40 pounds. He’s got webbed feet and he’s good on upland game, he’s good on waterfowl and in South Carolina they call them ‘the little brown dog that doesn’t rock the boat.’”
Teaching a graduate course in scientific writing is Bowyer’s favorite aspect of instruction, which is evident in his success securing grants for the university.
Scientific grants are provided primarily as funding for graduate-level research and are achieved by producing successful research publications.
“Grants are important but it’s really a very, very small part of science. The hardest thing to come by in science is a really good idea,” said Bowyer. “Getting grants is just a part of the process. It’s the publication and the successful graduate students that really make an impact on what will happen in the future.”
Bowyer continued, “I get to see graduate students go from very young, inexperienced writers to being able to publish their research, which is pretty nice. I really enjoy doing that.”
Bowyer’s success within grant acquisition has led to recognition among his peers.
“[Bowyer] has had a very productive research career. He’s mentored a lot of undergraduate and graduate students,” said interim associate chair for the department of biological sciences Janet Loxterman. “He’s been a very active part of the department both continuing his research and working with agencies outside of the university [including] Idaho Fish and Game, Idaho Wildlife Services, forest service, those types of things, but also developing relationships within the department amongst faculty and his colleagues.”
