Dr. Murat Atasoy has been named an assistant professor of environmental science at University of the Ozarks.
Atasoy has served as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Geoscience at Auburn University since 2021. He previously was an assistant professor ad department head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Osmaniye Korkut Ata University in Turkey from 2017-2019.
Atasoy earned both his Ph.D. and master’s degree from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Turkey before studying at the University of Arkansas in 2021 in the University’s International Language Center.
Atasoy’s research interests include conservation, utilization, remediation and regeneration of both local and national environment.
“My experiences have assisted me in gaining relevant technical skills in testing and monitoring consequences of degradation of natural lands due to driving factors such as anthropogenic disturbance and climate resiliency while providing an understanding of environmental justice in collaboration with minorities by the many benefits of public green spaces,” he said. “These experiences also help broaden representation and participation of minorities and underrepresented groups within the urban forestry on urban-wildland interfaces and natural resource management. I strongly believe that a faculty member should emphasize more on creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. By this way, a department can seek to promote diversity in its many manifestations which can ultimately increase the community share of creating, maintaining, and developing an environment. Therefore, the diversity is valued in relation to equity and practice efforts.”
Atasoy, who served as a research assistant and teaching assistant at Auburn, said he focuses on keeping his courses and tutoring sessions student-centered.
“I focus on creating a dialogue with the students and to help them discover answers for themselves,” he said. “I further discussion through recent literature, case studies and inventory researches which have primed me to create and teach inspiring atmospheres for students. As an enthusiastic educator, I use both traditional classrooms, and online environments leading students into team-based learning activities and projects throughout the semester. Therefore, students are not only encouraged to solve challenging problems, but also they are guided to collaborate by supporting problem solving as it would occur in the workplace.”
Topics: About, Environmental Studies