Teaching Statement

Anticipated Teaching Tasks

We provide high quality teaching within any academic curriculum, ranging from introductory levels in Geology, Palaeontology, and Biology to specialized courses in our fields of expertise such as analytical courses including phylogenetic, diversity, and palaeobiogeographic methods as well as anatomy of vertebrates.

Teaching Philosophies

Our teaching philosophy relies on tracing and further developing of individual student skills based on careful evaluations of the curriculum previously followed by students to fill gaps but also to support individual expertises and interests. Consequently, our main goal in teaching student classes is to guide and accompany students on their way to successfully finish their grades and projects. Postgraduate student guidance is based on an individual project in accordance with the Department's targets.

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Courses SS 2008

06.-10.10.2008: Phylogeny of Vertebrates. Part 2: Mammalia

Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin. Dipl.-Geol. M. Voss & Dipl.-Geol. S. Klug

The aim of this unit is to provide an introduction to the diversity, evolution, and relationships of mammals. Their behaviour and biology will be considered.

Courses WS 2007/08

05.-15.02.2008: Comparative Anatomy of Fishes

Lecture with practical. Department of Biology, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany. Dr. J. Kriwet

The purpose of this course is to explore why living and fossil fishes are shaped in a particular way? How does this relate to their behaviour and evolution? In this unit we will examine how morphology and biomechanics of extant fishes influence our understanding of form and function. First, the skull morphology of teleosts and closely related living forms is explored by dissecting specimens. Following this, the skeletal elements of the skulls are identified and the biomechanical traits are analysed (e.g., feeding). The aim is to gain a fundamental understanding of the relationships between form and function.

16.-18.02.2008: Functional morphology of aquatic vertebrates

Aqua-Zoo-Löbbecke Museum Düsseldorf, Germany. Priv. Dr. O. Hampe (unit organizer) & Dr. J. Kriwet

This unit provides an overview of adaptations of primary and secondary aquatic vertebrates. It is a practical and interdisciplinary unit, considering fossil and living organisms in their environmental context.

18.-22.02.2008: Phylogeny of Vertebrates. Part 1: Vertebrates except Mammalia

Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin. Dr. J. Kriwet, M. Voss, S. Klug

The aim of this unit is to provide an introduction to the diversity, evolution, and relationships of fishes s.l., amphibians, and reptiles (including dinosaurs). Their behaviour and biology will be considered.

Mondays: "Oberseminar" for MSc and PhD students

Museum für Naturkunde, Hu-Berlin, Germany. Dr. J. Kriwet & Dr. U. Struck

The aim of this seminar is to learn presentation techniques and to enable students to practice scientific talks.

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Courses taught so far

Analytical methods
Lecture
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, LMU Munich, Germany.

Co-evolutionary patterns of vertebrates
Lecture
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, LMU Munich, Germany.

Methods in Palaeobiology
Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Module 1: Systematic methods.
Module 2: Diversity measurements.
Module 3: Extinction.
Module 4: Palaeobiogeography.

Comparative Anatomy of Fishes
Lecture with practical
Department of Biology, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany.

Systematic Methods
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.

Applied Palaeobiology: Functional Morphology of Vertebrates
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.

Research Methods: Palaeobiogeography
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.

Research Methods: Diversity measurements
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.

Current Controversies in Palaeobiology: vicariance vs. dispersal
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.

Current Controversies in Palaeobiology: molecular vs. morphological data in phylogenetic reconstructions.
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.

Current Controversies in Palaeobiology: Diversity of fishes.
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
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