WWWIC Biographies

• Slator, Brian M., Paul Juell, Phillip E. McClean, Bernhardt Saini-Eidukat, Donald P. Schwert, Alan R. White, Curt Hill (1999). Virtual Environments for Education. Journal of Network and Computer Applications, Academic Press.

	Dr. Brian Slator is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at North Dakota State University. His research interests are Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Educational Media. He is currently involved in several research projects in the area of immersive, multi-user, virtual environments. He is also involved in research for developing software tools for constructing virtual worlds, and innovative methods for assessing learning in virtual environments.
	Dr. Paul Juell is developing visualization tools for the AI classroom. This work is a direct outgrowth of his active research in both AI and classroom technology. His AI research is primarily aimed at developing and improving tools. His classroom technology work has included internet based distance education, changing the campus to include Web based instructional components, and video conferencing tools as part of normal classroom activities.
	Dr. Phillip McClean is a Professor of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University with teaching responsibilties in genetics (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/mcclean/plsc431) and plant molecular genetics (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/mcclean/plsc731/index.htm). Dr. McClean received the Excellence in Teaching - Early Career from the NDSU College of Agricultre in 1994 and the Peltier Award for Innovation in Teaching from NDSU in 1998. Dr. McClean was also honored in 1999 with an Innovative Exellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology Award at the 10th International Conference on College Teaching, Learning and Technology.
	Dr. Bernhardt Saini-Eidukat is a petrologist, mineralogist, and economic geologist who is currently working in three research areas: 1) the tectonomagmatic evolution of the Somoncura area of northern Patagonia, Argentina, using radiogenic isotope methods; 2) inquiry into how active learning of geologic concepts can be promoted by using role-playing software; 3) the occurrence of a silver-rich massive sulfide deposit in the Lumby Lake region of Ontario. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at North Dakota State University, he teaches a variety of courses including Physical Geology, Mineralogy, Petrology, Geochemistry, Hydrogeology, Environmental Geology, and Field Courses.
	Dr. Donald P. Schwert is a surficial geologist, with a research specialty in ice age environments. Being a professor in a large-section (>400 students) class of Physical Geology has interested him in the development and application of software that will help transform such a class into a better learning environment.
	Dr. Alan R. White is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Botany/Biology, North Dakota State University. His plant cell biology research interests include the structure of plant cell walls, the synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides, and the structure and functional organization of Golgi membranes in plant cells. His interests in cell biology are also channeled into the development of the Virtual Cell, a virtual environment for teaching cell biology.
	Curt Hill is an Assistant Professor in the Valley City State University Math Department. His main job there is to teach Computer Science classes, an occasional Algebra class, and maintain web pages. His current research emphasis is the development of the ProgrammingLand MOO for online instruction in programming and programming languages.

The JNCA instructions: "Brief author biographies will be printed at the foot of all papers: they should not exceed 100 words for each author. Authors should also supply a passport sized black and white photograph"