Mary Lou Bevier

Mary Lou Bevier is a Senior Instructor Emerita in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Her roles include serving as Associate Head for Undergraduate Affairs, overseeing ten committees and liaising between academic units. She has extensive teaching experience in geoscience courses such as EOSC 220 (Mineralogy), EOSC 223 (Field Techniques), and BSc thesis supervision (EOSC 449). Her leadership includes directing UBC’s Salt Spring Field School and participating in the Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative (CWSEI)-funded EOS-SEI project, which transformed her teaching methods toward active learning and course goal alignment.

Education

• B.S. with Honors in Earth Science, University of California, Santa Cruz (1975)
• M.Sc. in Geological Sciences, UBC (1978)
• Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara (1982)
• Post-doctoral Fellow, Geological Survey of Canada (1985–1987)

Research Interests
Bevier’s work focuses on geoscience education, particularly improving undergraduate curricula and student engagement through active learning strategies. She emphasizes field-based education, assessment protocols, and making geoscience accessible to diverse audiences, including Indigenous communities. Her research also addresses student attitude shifts across geoscience programs and the integration of technology in teaching.

Publications & Outreach
Her publications span geoscience education innovations and geological studies in regions like British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Alaska. She actively engages in outreach, delivering talks on local geology, mentoring K-12 educators, and collaborating with First Nations groups to contextualize geoscience within cultural frameworks.

Awards

• Earth and Ocean Sciences Leadership and Service Award (2011)
• UBC Science Undergraduate Society Citation (2006)
• Incredible Instructor Award (2001)

Advising & Grants
While not currently accepting students, Bevier has mentored Honours students through BSc thesis work. Her grants include CWSEI funding for the EOS-SEI project, which enhanced active learning in geoscience courses.

Labs & Teams
As part of her educational initiatives, she contributed to the Science Education Initiative (SEI) and collaborated with UBC’s Faculty of Science on curriculum reforms.