Educating students beyond the traditional classroom

Every month or so, UC Davis professor Robert Kimsey gets a call from a coroner or police detective seeking his expertise in forensic entomology. Never one to let a real-life learning opportunity slip by, Kimsey's final question before hanging up is always the same: "Can I bring my students?"

Except in particularly horrific cases, the answer is usually yes.

Kimsey allows a small group of students to accompany him and teaches them how the presence of certain bugs can reveal a trove of information about a crime scene, such as how long a person has been dead, if that person died where he or she was found, or if the crime happened somewhere different from where the person was discovered.

In his work as a consultant on a variety of projects unrelated to UC — from researching a fly infestation at Alcatraz Island to analyzing forensic evidence at crime scenes and coroner's offices — Kimsey has found a nexus between academia and the real world that allows him to give his students hands-on experience in real-life situations that take them well beyond the classroom.

"It's a critical part of students' education to do at least a little bit of what you're learning in class," Kimsey said. "You learn much better when you're doing something, than if you're just learning from textbooks."

Students flock to Kimsey's classes for the rigorous and thorough instruction both in the classroom and out in the field. Thank you notes pepper Kimsey's office door from students who credit him with making learning fun and accessible, and even helping them land coveted research positions.

In June, the Associated Students of UC Davis named Kimsey the Outstanding Educator of 2013 in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

"A common sentiment expressed by those lucky enough to have taken Professor Kimsey was that Professor Kimsey goes above and beyond what is required of a teacher," ASUCD Academic Affairs Commissioner Rahul Sachdev said. "Professor Kimsey frequently allows students to accompany him in the field where students are given the opportunity to apply the principles learned in class to a real-life situation.

A UC Davis graduate, Kimsey has been teaching biology and entomology at his alma mater for nearly 23 years.

But his interest in bugs and various life forms dates back to childhood. His father was an ichthyologist, a specialist in the study of fish, and frequently brought home the unusual and the remarkable. Insects in particular intrigued him and he followed that passion to college, where he earned his bachelor's and doctoral degrees in entomology. 

"I've always been fascinated by the extraordinary diversity in insects," he said. "The average person might estimate coming across 20 insects in their lifetime, but it's actually more like 2,000 species. They're everywhere and in everything. I'm sort of a xenophile: the stranger, the better."

He and his wife, fellow entomologist Lynn Kimsey who is director of UC Davis's Bohart Museum of Entomology, enjoy bug-filled outings. Once while visiting the lowland forests of Panama, they came across Panamanian stalk-eyed fruit flies — so named because their eyes are perched on long stalks that extend from their heads similar to hammer-head sharks — jockeying for a piece of territory among soft, fleshy fungus.

"This may sound weird, but it was a huge amount of fun to sit in front of the fungi and watch all the social interactions going on," he said. "It's very much like a high school prom."

These days, in addition to teaching, Kimsey serves as master advisor for students majoring in animal biology. He organizes the Entomology Department's activities for UC Davis's annual Picnic Day open house, reveling in introducing students and visitors to everything from termite trails to hosting honey tastings.

Kimsey also sits on the volunteer board of the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team and teaches its annual Forensic Fire Death Investigation Course to some 60 investigators. And yes, he usually takes students with him.

Student participation on these projects is not a class requirement, but Kimsey has yet to have a student turn down an opportunity.

"Not one," he said. "Everybody wants to go. Everybody wants to see."

Before heading out on a project, especially to a crime scene or a coroner's office, Kimsey prepares his students by telling them exactly what they will see and do. If they're feeling uncomfortable, he tells them to just have a seat, even if it's on the floor, and take a moment to collect themselves.

There is often that initial shock when students pause to digest what they are seeing. Then, they dive in wholeheartedly, picking up tools and collecting evidence. Kimsey said most students acclimate quickly and perform well.

"He teaches us that research is accessible, and for that lesson I will always be grateful," said student Andrew McGee, adding, "I know I can rely on him for help, and for good, honest advice. I can't count the number of times he's offered to help students, anything from talking about assignments to helping them get research positions."