Born and raised in Brooklyn, I grew up in Sheepshead Bay, a charming neighborhood far from the madding crowd, with tree-shaded streets, salt mist drifting in from the ocean, and the soulful sound of fishing-boat foghorns on the Bay. I received my higher education within the City University of New York (CUNY): my bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College, my master’s degree from Hunter College, and my Ph.D., in biology, from the CUNY Graduate School.
My doctoral work revolved around evolutionary concepts, including competition, fitness, genetic altruism, and sociobiology. In addition, I have a long-standing interest in philosophy of science, epistemology, and intellectual history. One of my current biology research interests is lichenology, especially the practical use of lichens as bio-indicators of pollution.