Dr. Robert A. Williams

Emeritus Professor

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Office of Science and Mathematics Education(OSME)
http://www.siue.edu/OSME/river

Project Director:

• Rivers  Project
• Illinois Rivers Project
• Illinois Middle School Groundwater Project

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Science Education, Georgia State University, 1975
M.Ed. Science Education, University of Georgia, 1968
BS Biology, Rocky Mountain College, 1962

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2000-Present Professor Emeritus, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, SIUE
1973-2000 Professor, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, SIUE
1979-2000 Adjunct Professor, Environmental Studies, SIUE
1970-73 Instructor, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
1969-70 Biology Teacher, Cobb County, GA
1968-69 Chemistry/Biology Teacher, Piper High School, Piper, KS
1965-66 Elementary Teacher, Nevada Youth Training Center, Elko, NV
1963-65 Biology Teacher, Great Falls High, Great Falls, MT

Publications

A. Books

Growing and Changing,(2000), Dale Seymour Publications,(with Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

Sounds Around Us,(2000),Dale Seymour Publications, (with Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

Caring for Our Planet,(2000), Dale Seymour Publications, (with Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

Animals and Their Homes,(2000), Dale Seymour Publications, (with Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

Rivers Project Language Arts,(2000), Dale Seymour Publications, Project Coordinator

Discovery Science Kit,(1999), Work and Family Direction for distribution to families of ATT and
Lucent Technology.(With Winnett, Rockwell Sherwood)

Building Walls of Wombats,(1999), By Lubawy and Jarratt, Pademelon Press Sydney, AU, Forward by 
R. Williams Wetlands,(1998), Franklin Watts,with M. Lisowski 

Rivers Project Biology, (1998), Dale Seymour Publications, Project Coordinator and lead author 

Rivers Project Mathematics,(1998),Dale Seymour Publications, Project Coordinator

Rivers Project Earth Science, (1998), Dale Seymour Publications, Project Coordinator 

Everything for Spring, (1997) GryphonHouse,Inc., (with Robert Rockwell and Elizabeth Sherwood)(selected activities)

Everything for Fall, (1997) Gryphon House,Inc., (with Robert Rockwell and Elizabeth Sherwood)(selected activities) 

Everything for Winter (1997) Gryphon House,Inc., (with Robert Rockwell and Elizabeth Sherwood) 

Wood,Stones, and Other Solids, (1997), Dale Seymour Publications, (with Winnett,Rockwell & Sherwood)

You and Your Environment, (1997), Dale Seymour Publications, (with Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood) 

Rivers Project Chemistry, (1997), Dale Seymour Publications, Project Coordinator 

Rivers Project Geography, (1997), Dale Seymour Publications, Project Coordinator

The Mysteries of Light,(1997), Dale Seymour Publications, (with Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

The Wonders of Water,(1997), Dale Seymour Publications, (with Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

Discovery Science, Pre-school (1995),Addison Wesley Pub. (With Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

Discovery Science, Kg (1994), Addison Wesley,(With Winnett, Rockwell & Sherwood)

Everybody Has a Body (1993), Gryphon House,Inc., (with R. Rockwell and E. Sherwood)

More Mudpies to Magnets (1990), Gryphon House,Inc., (with R. Rockwell and E. Sherwood)

Meanderings 90-99, 30 issues of this student and teacher authored publication have
been published by the Rivers Project and printed by Illinois DNR and Ameritech.They have been
distributed annually to the Illinois Library, the Library of Congress, the British National Library,
and 40 other repositories.

Traveler's Log (1990) Log Cabin Publications, Edwardsville, IL

Academic Preparation for College in Illinois-Science (1988) A Joint report of the Illinois State Board of
Education and The Illinois Board of Higher Education, Springfield, IL

State Goals for Learning: Sample Learning Objectives-Science (1987) State of Illinois, Springfield,
IL co-authored 

Mudpies to Magnets: An Early Childhood Science Curriculum, (1987) Gryphon House, Inc,
1987(R. Rockwell & E. Sherwood).

Hug A Tree and Other Activities to Do Outdoors With Young Children, (1983) Gryphon House, Inc.,
(R.Rockwell & E. Sherwood).

The Effects of the National Environmental Education Development Program on Self Concept and Change
of Environmental Attitudes of Selected Elementary School Students (1975) dissertation

B. Articles and other publications

Storm sewer stenciling connects students with causes of pollution (1999), Watershed and Wet Weather Technical Bulletin, October P. 13-15 Water Environment Federation, Washington, DC. 
(With Christine Butza)

Captured Wisdom Libraries, 1999 Edition. Cited in video clip produced about a MN teachers work, Published by NCREL, Oak Brook, IL

Directory of Faculty Who Teach Environmental Education Courses at Colleges and Universities in the United States, (1999), North American Association For Environmental Education,
 Washington, DC.

Project Earth, 1999 Edition. Rivers Project Description, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Southfield MI

Rivers Project Description  (1999) Directory of Science Training Programs for Teachers and Students, Science Service, Washington, DC

Building Community from Rivers to Streets, The Neighborhood Works, (1998) Center for Neighborhood Technology, Vol. 21, #1, Page 20-22.  Interviewed along with Rivers Project teachers.

Spotlight on a Facilitator: Bob Williams, (Sep, 1997) Illinois DNR Education Newsletter from Springfield

Achieving Science Literacy: a parent and school partnership, (1995) Celebrating Family Literacy Through Intergenerational Programming, ACEI (with Rockwell, Winnett, and Sherwood)

Illinois Middle School Groundwater Project, (1995), Splash, Illinois Section AWWA, 95-2, Summer, p 6.

Illinois Middle School Groundwater Project,  (1995) The APA Resources. Fall/Winter V.6, #4, 

Rivers Curriculum Project (1995), Promising Practices in Mathematics and Science Education, US Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, p. 78-79

Living and Learning in Our World: Outdoor Education for Young Children, (1995) a video for Apples Magazine and WIU/ISBE Satellite Network, Macomb, IL, (With R. Rockwell)

"The Rivers Curriculum Project: A Cooperative Interdisciplinary Model". Children's Environment, 11 (3), 1994, p.  251-254. (With C. Bidlack and B. Brinson)

"Students get their feet wet" Illinois Research, (1993, winter).  16-18. (With C. Bidlack)

"Letters to the editor". Art Education, (1994). 47 (3) 8. (With C. Bidlack)

"The Magic of Elsah Creek". Social Education, 1993, 57 (7). (With C. Bidlack)

"The Illinois Rivers Project: Involving students in river study". Environmental Connections, 1(1), 1993, January/February, p. 28-29  (With C. Bidlack)

"At the Waters Edge, Students Study Their Rivers". Educational Leadership, vol. 51, No 1, Sep, 1993, p. 80-83, (With C. Bidlack and D. Winnett).

"Grant Writing for Teachers". The Volunteer Monitor, vol. 5, no 2, fall, 1993, (With C. Bidlack)

"Getting the Word Out". The Volunteer Monitor, vol. 5, no 1, spring, 1993, (with C. Bidlack)

"Students in the Midwest Immersed in Environmental Education". Chemecology, vol. 21, No 9, Nov 1992, p.10-11, (With C. Bidlack and J. Ballinger)

GRANTSMANSHIP

Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Publication of 300 copies of Meanderings, (Yearly)

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Support for the Clean Water Celebration (Yearly, $2,500)

American Bottoms Wetlands Project, US Army Corps of Engineers, $5,700, fall 1998

Discovery Science Preschool Project, Work and Family Direction, $225,000, ongoing to fall, 2000

Discovery Science Preschool Project, Work and Family Direction, $130,000, funded in 1996-97

Olin Foundation  (1998) for support of Storm Stenciling Project, $1000

The Gateway Area Storm Sewer Stenciling Project, $40,000, 1997-98

The Zebra Mussel Project, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, $10,000 total Funded in 1992,1994, 1995

The Illinois Middle School Groundwater Project, W. K. Kellogg Foundation. $500,000, funded, 1993-98

The Rivers Curriculum Project, NSF, $1.1 million for three years, funded 1991-95

Illinois Rivers Project, Eisenhower Title Two Grant to IBHE, Funded, l990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95

Midwestern Rivers Project, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, $27,890, Nov, 1990

Illinois Rivers Project, ISBE Scientific Literacy Initiative, $209,000, Sep, 1990.

Illinois" Mississippi River Water Quality Monitoring Project, ISBE, $124,000, Dec 1989.

SIUE Regional Science Fair, Southern Illinois University, 1982-87, $10,000+ yearly.  

"Developing A Nature Trail at SIUE," YCC project, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Interior, five years (1977-82). $115,000

Director, "Energy Awareness for EL and JHS Teachers in Southwestern Illinois, "Department of Energy (1979-80). $9967

PAPERS PRESENTED

15-20 presentations yearly: The Rivers Project, The Groundwater Project, Discovery Science, etc. 

19 Feb 99, SIUE graduating nurses, Water Quality in Illinois

18 Feb 99, Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, IL Water Quality in Illinois

6 Feb 99 Chicago Rivers Project Student Congress, Clean It Up, Once You Spill, Presented twice to HS students.

5 Feb 99 Ninth Annual Science Educators Conference, Carlinville, IL.  Water Quality Issues in Illinois

22 Jan 99, The Rivers Curriculum, Under the Umbrella, Chicago Public Schools 

13 Jan 99 The Rivers Project and Associate Activities, Friends of Lovejoy Library Advisory Board

7 Jan 98, Friends of the Chicago River Student Congress, Amundsen High School, Chicago, IL 

6 Feb 98, Kane County Groundwater Workshop Keynote, St. Charles, IL

24 Jan 98, Stream Teach Meeting in St. Louis, 

8 Jan 98, Illinois Annual SWCD Winter Training Meeting, Springfield, IL. Building Groundwater Models

4 Dec 98, SIUE graduating nurses, Water Quality in Illinois

12 Nov 98, Education Vision of the Mississippi River, St. Louis MO

6-8 Nov 98, The Rivers Project Booth, 3rd Annual Conference on Environmental Education, Osage Beach MO.

23 Oct 98, Hug a Tree and Other Outdoor Activities for the Early Years, Midwest EE Conf. Carbondale, IL

23 Oct 98, Groundwater: Building Education Programs, Midwest EE Conf., Touch of Nature, Carbondale IL

22-24 Oct 98, Rivers Project Booth, Midwest Environmental Education Conference, Carbondale IL

17 Oct 98, There’s a Bug in My Water, Illinois Science Teachers Association, Rosemont, IL

16-17 Oct 98, Illinois Rivers and Groundwater Booth, Illinois Science Teachers Association, Rosemont, IL

5 Oct 98, WEF, meeting, Orlando, FL Storm Sewer Stenciling: A Method to Address non-Point Pollution in the School Curriculum

3-7 Oct 98, Rivers Project Booth, Water Environment Federation annual Meeting, Orlando, FL

18 Sep 98, H20 Below, Tri State Every Drop Counts Youth Educator’s Soil and Water Workshop, Evansville IN

18 Sep 98, Water Watchers with Marylin Lisowski, Tri State Youth Educator’s Soil and Water, Evansville IN

4-8 Sep 98, Rivers Project Booth, NAAEE Annual Meeting, Atlanta GA

7 Sep 98, Wondering About and in Wetlands and Water Rich Areas, NAAEE Annual Meeting, Atlanta GA

8-17 Aug 98, Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL, Arranged for 9 Rivers Project high schools to staff a booth for the Illinois DNR.

Spring/Summer 98, Thousands Celebrate Clean Water, Green Talk, IEPA, Springfield IL

21 May 98, Field Activities in Water Education, Practical Work in Science Education, Copenhagen, Denmark

21 May 98, Investigations and Creative Labwork in Primary School, Chair, Practical Work in Sc. Ed, Copenhagen, Denmark

7 May 98, The Rivers Project, To Chinese visitors for World Affairs Council of St. Louis at Francis Howell HS, MO 

10 Apr 98, Water Quality in Illinois, SIUE graduating nurses

3 Apr 98, Water Issues, Keynote, T.R.U.E. Blue Clean Water Celebration, Kansas City, KS

16-18 Apr 98, Rivers Project Booth, National Science Teachers Association, Las Vegas, 20-

21 Mar 98, The Clean Water Celebration, Peoria, IL, Co-Director NV

12 Mar 98, Water Issues, with Marylin Lisowski, Ottawa Public Schools, Ottawa, IL

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

2002                               Groundwater Foundation’s Edith Stevens Groundwater Educator Award

2000                               Illinois DNR Conservation Congress Advisory Board and Conservation Congress

1998                               Renew America Award for Environmental Sustainability

1997                               Malcolm Swan Illinois Environmental Educator of the Year IEEA

1998                               1997Groundwater Advocate Award,  National Groundwater Association

1996                               Selected to be on DNR Director’s Conservation Congress Advisory Board.

1996                               Superior Program Award, Zebra Mussel Mania, Great Lakes Sea Grant Assoc. 

1996                               Honorable Mention, Clean Water Celebration, Community Solution for Ed.             

1996                               Renew America National Award for Sustainability in Freshwater and Waters

1996                               Environmental Youth Award from President Clinton

1995                               Environmental Youth Award from President Clinton

1995                               Renew America Award

1994                               Water Environment Federation-Public Education Award-Individual                                 Category

1994                               U.S. Department of Energy-"Show Us Your Best," Print Category,     

1994                               Eisenhower National Clearinghouse - Promising Practices                

1994                               EPA, Public Education Award

1994                               Making Waves Award - Clean water celebration

1993                               Chevron Conservation Award

1993                               NEA Endorsed Curriculum Project

1993                               Renewable Natural Resources Foundation Award

1992                               Goshen Preservation Award

1992                               President's Environmental Youth Award Region V USEPA

1992                               USEPA Award for Excellence in a Group Project

1992                               Keep America Beautiful National Awards Program, 

1992                               Resources "ILEED" Energy Conservation Award

1991                               Soil and Water Conservation Society State Merit Award

1991                               Soil and Water Conservation society National Merit Award

1991                               Illinois:" Take Pride in America" Award

1991                               National "Take Pride in America" Award

1991                               Illinois Department of Energy and Natural

 

Curator: Rivers Project Staff
Last Updated: Tue, Nov 26, 2002