Warren Dolphin thinks it’s OK to be a biology nerd.

Dolphin, professor of zoology and genetics, is one of the five professors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences named a Master Teacher for the 2002-2003 academic year.

Dolphin said if students are passionate about biology, they’ll find other students who have the same interests — even if it’s something as nerdy as “being fascinated by a bunch of ants.”

Whether it’s a colony of Kenyan ants or marine life inhabiting the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s coast, Dolphin said he’s always striven to show diverse biology to his students.

This desire to enlighten his students is one of the reasons he was named a Master Teacher, said James Colbert, associate professor of botany.

Colbert said Dolphin received the recognition for creating biology field trips that allow undergraduates to study abroad.

“He intended the idea of international experiences for students and came up with the idea for international courses,” Colbert said.

“Other faculty have offered international field trips, and I don’t think any of them would have come to that notion without Warren’s effort.”

He said the programs, which teach students about biology in exotic locations such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Kenya and Australia, have vastly expanded students’ biological worldview.

While pioneering the field of undergraduate international travel was important for the award, Dolphin’s students feel he deserves the award for other reasons.

“Most professors focus on research but Dolphin’s main goal was to teach,” said Jordan Rixen, sophomore in biology. “He’s probably the best lecturer I’ve ever had.”

“He’s very interactive with the class,” said Katie Pettyjohn, junior in biology.

“He’s an easy-going guy and his teaching style reflects this because I’ve never felt intimidated by him.

“His relationship with students isn’t like a student-teacher one, but more like one friend to another.”