Delving into Nature
Science
Webb’s science program aims to teach students how to ask intelligent questions about nature as well as how to design experiments to answer those questions. Courses also engage students in discussion and debate about the impact of science on our broader community. The science department utilizes the unique resources of the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, located on Webb’s campus, laboratories located at local institutions and engages in field work across the region.
Faculty
Mairin Balisi, Ph.D.
Teacher, Alf Museum Curator
UC Berkeley – B.A., B.A.University of Michigan – M.S.
UCLA – Ph.D.
mbalisi@public-records-database.net
Brendan Beikmann, Ph.D.
Teacher
Colorado State College – B.A.Penn State – Ph.D.
bbeikmann@public-records-database.net
Sawyer Belville
Teacher
Whittier College – B.A.Durham University – M.S.
sbelville@public-records-database.net
John Choi
Teacher, Director of Equity
University of Illinois – B.S.Northwestern University – M.S. Ed.
jchoi@public-records-database.net
Andy Farke, Ph.D.
TEACHER, Director of the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology
South Dakota School of Mines – B.S.State University of New York, Stony Brook – Ph.D.
afarke@public-records-database.net
Billie Guerrero
Teacher
University of La Verne – B.S.CSU San Bernardino – M.S.
bguerrero@public-records-database.net
Nika Haleftiras
Teacher
Caltech – B.S. in biologyUniversity of Miami – M.A. in biology
nhaleftiras@public-records-database.net
Andrew Hamilton
Teacher
Dalhousie University – BSc, MScUniversity of Toronto – B.Ed.
ahamilton@public-records-database.net
Michael Hoe '04
Teacher, Director of Studies
Brown University – B.S.Harvard University – Ed. M.
mhoe@public-records-database.net
Brian Kays
Teacher
San Diego State University – B.A.Mount St. Mary's College – M.S.
bkays@public-records-database.net
Joseph Martin, Ph.D.
Teacher
University of North Carolina – B.S.UC Berkeley – Ph.D.
joemartin@public-records-database.net
Lisa Nacionales
Teacher, Science Department Chair
University of Tampa – B.A.Johns Hopkins – M.A.
lnacionales@public-records-database.net
Annalise Reynosa
Science Lab Tech
University of California - Merced – BAareynosa@public-records-database.net@public-records-database.net
Course of Study
Webb’s science curriculum includes foundational courses for ninth and 10th grades as well as a host of electives in multiple disciplines.
Evolutionary Biology: All Webb ninth-graders take this laboratory and field study course, which the world of the life sciences. It is a full-year course that builds foundational science practice skills, teaching students how to properly frame and test scientific questions – how to think like scientists.
Integrated Physics & Chemistry: This dynamic course provides students with exposure to foundational ideas in physics and chemistry and guides them to see the many connections between these two disciplines. This is a hands-on, project-based class, focused on an inquiry approach to studying science and emphasizing multidisciplinary thinking.
Elective Course of Study: Students in ninth and 10th grades take semester-long electives focused on paleontology. Students in 10th and 11th grades may choose from more than 15 elective courses, including AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics C, Astrophysics, Neuroscience, Science & Engineering, Honors Microbiology & Immunology, Advanced Studies in Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Studies in Biotechnology, Advanced Studies in Experimental Physics, Advanced Studies in Organic Chemistry and Advanced Studies in Paleontology.