Rick Hammer
Dr. Rick Hammer is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Rick is a plant conservation biologist and conducts research on rare and endangered plants in Texas. He is active in faith outreach especially in the area of Christian environmental stewardship and ethics. Examples of his outreach efforts include hosting speakers at Hardin-Simmons Chapel services such as Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, an evangelical Christian climate scientist and Ben Lowe, who is the national organizer and spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. As part of his outreach efforts to Texas Baptists, Rick had his essay, “Divine Lessons from Biodiversity,” published in the Baptist Standard, a statewide publication for Baptists in Texas.
Starting in September 2013 Rick will be leading a creation care class in his local congregation. The class will be using Dr. Calvin DeWitt’s book called Earthwise, a Guide to Hopeful Creation Care. In addition to more writing he plans to begin outreach efforts-primarily as a speaker-to all faith congregations in the west Texas area. Further statewide outreach is planned for Texas Baptists by working with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Dr. Hammer earned a Ph.D. in Botany in the Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Texas A&M University. At Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) he regularly teaches general botany, general ecology, tropical ecology of Costa Rica, and environmental ethics. He is faculty advisor for the Environmental Service Club, a student-led group at HSU that focuses on creation care educational outreach and service projects. Rick is a master educator in the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics program (LNT). The LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people of all ages how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, and is the most widely accepted outdoor ethics program used on public lands. Rick is an active adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and serves as the Outdoor Ethics Advocate for his 17-county Boy Scout area council and has taught Leave No Trace courses for BSA. Rick lives with his wife and son in Abilene, TX.
You can check out Rick’s faculty profile at Hardin-Simmons as well as his lab page.
You can contact Dr. Hammer by filling out the form below:
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