Thomas Dowling

Background

About Thomas Dowling

I am the science teacher you wish you had. I am the teacher you want in your school or leading your museum's education department. I have designed and built and build apparatus for science labs and activities, I give exciting science demonstrations, identify trees, and I can draw, paint and even sculpt. I hold NJ certification in biology and have begun classes to add additional certifications including math, social studies and earth science. I have coached and judged middle school STEM competitions. Science, technology and their histories have been a lifelong interest. I read extensively about science, technology and their development over, and influence upon history. Even if I did not work as a science teacher or in a science museum, I would still enjoy and engage in amateur science. I have included pictures from my teaching and museum work, as well as those gathered as a "scientific tourist" to bring back to my classes. I use my art skills to create illustrations for my classes, often on the SmartBoard. A drawing I made showing a locomotive about to be scrapped is among my pictures. Additional examples may be seen in my employment section. My "naturalist" interests are strong, too. I am quite good at native tree and plant identification, and can lead outdoor education activities in botany, ecology and related topics. I've done field collecting in geology and paleontology, including tree fern coal fossils from PA, crinoids, blastoids, horn corals and others from AL and belemnites and other invertebrates from NJ's famous Big Brook. I am also a tool collector and user. I own a machine lathe, two drill presses, woodworking equipment and a collection of both modern and traditional hand tools. My fabrication skills include woodwork, blacksmithing, machine shop, sheet metal, electrical and electronic work and more. In the museum venues, as well as in my classrooms, my shop skills have been quite valuable.