A Class Runs Through It: UA Professor Teaches About the Environment Through Course on Fly Fishing

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Studying and writing aren’t enough to make the grade in Dr. Michael Steinberg’s Spring 2009 course in The University of Alabama’s New College. To pass this class, you first must catch the bass – or trout. Students will have to get in a river and catch a fish on a fly.

The class, called “The Arts and Science of Fly Fishing,” is designed to teach key lessons about the environmental issues that affect fish and fly fishing, including watersheds, streams, pollution and insects. Students will have to read literature, write papers and create projects just as in other classes.

But Steinberg, an assistant professor in New College and UA’s geography department, also plans to teach students how to fly fish. A portion of their grade will be based on whether they’re able to catch a fish or show improvement in casting. Steinberg intends to take them to local rivers and on overnight field trips to give them hands-on experiences of the environment.

“When we fish, we will learn about specific areas and environments, and we will keep a clear focus on larger environmental issues behind the scenes,” Steinberg says. “For example, what does the presence of certain fish species tell us about the specific environment? How have people impacted areas that we visit and read about? We will examine environmental issues at the local level most of the time, but it will also be important to think about regional and even global environmental change and how it impacts fisheries, especially cold water fisheries.”

The class will continue through the Spring 2009 semester. To find out more about the class, phone Steinberg at 205/348-0349 or send an e-mail to mksteinberg@as.ua.edu.

New College and the geography department are part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Teams.