Dr. Carla Delucchi, professor of biology, chose to attend the University of California-Santa Barbara as an undergraduate because they offered her the chance to do research right away as a freshman. She wasn't really sure what she wanted to research, but she knew it was what she loved. It wasn't until she was working on her doctorate at Cornell University in New York that she discovered she enjoyed teaching even more than research. At Dana, Delucchi has the opportunity to be a great teacher, while helping her own students learn through research. " The thing I like about science is you can find out things that nobody else knows," she said. "Our students think science already knows everything. When they ask us about something that hasn't been researched yet, we say, 'We don't know everything, but you can help find out the answer.' " Delucchi stresses the importance of observation when it comes to studying science.

" I think so much can be done in just sitting and watching," she said.

" I'm always amazed that students will come up with a hypothesis on their own when they are given an assignment to just observe. They'll develop theories to explain what they see."

Delucchi said Dana's success at producing highly qualified graduates who go on to great careers and graduate programs stems from the personal interaction they get with Dana's biology professors.

" We do end up making them responsible for themselves," she said. "We start off holding their hands, but they get to the point where they are seniors and we say, 'You have to figure this out for yourselves.' "

She also sees benefits in Dana's small student body.

" Our students really know each other," she said. "All the students learn to interact with people and solve problems. It's amazing how many students come out of schools and don't have those things."

Delucchi also tries to make things real for students. Rather than using hypothetical models and computer simulations, she always prefers using real nature, even when it means getting state and federal permits to collect road kill.

" I like to see the students grow and they do — sometimes in spite of themselves."

Dr. Carla Delucchi
Professor of Biology
cdelucch@dana.edu
402 426-7261
Office: DHS 210