Chris Lee
Faculty of Science
Learning the lessons of nature
Chris’s favourite moments are when his students pause in front of a plant they’ve walked past countless times, and suddenly — armed with a bit of botanical insight — they truly see it for the first time. It’s as if the ordinary has become extraordinary, and the familiar world begins to speak in a new language.
What are you doing differently in your field that you believe is driving real change?
My focus is on experiential learning in the field, lab and classroom. Whether strolling around the neighbourhood, visiting a worksite, or travelling abroad, I help students hone their powers of observation to apply their university experiences to new and old situations.
How do you help students build confidence, not just knowledge?
My units aren't about memorising facts, but about learning how to take information and apply it to novel situations. I avoid final examinations and instead ask students to apply their unit learnings to create e-portfolios on applied topics and challenges that are relevant and important to them. I allow a great deal of creative flexibility with these e-portfolios and have received both amazing technical pieces and beautiful creative pieces from my students.
Whether in the city or out in the wild, there are interesting biological and scientific mysteries to observe and understand. Even if students don’t go on to become a biologist or botanist, they will never be bored again. ”
What do you hope your students take away from their time with you?
I hope that students take away with them an excitement and curiosity about everything around them. Whether in the city or out in the wild, there are interesting biological and scientific mysteries to observe and understand. Even if they don’t go on to become a biologist or botanist, they will never be bored again.
What do you hope your students remember about you 10 years from now?
I want students to remember walking with me and stopping every ten steps to talk about my favourite (and next favourite) plant. I want students to appreciate and find joy in the small things in their life/career. Learning about botany requires patience and observation, that careful consideration over detail can be applied to many paths in life.
What does being a 'Changemaker’ mean to you personally?
Being a changemaker means seeing the status quo and being able to recognise where it is working, but also being critical and always looking for places where things could be better or different.
Was there a turning point that brought you to becoming an educator, or did you always know you'd end up here?
I had struggled for years in my undergraduate, and my turning point was my first botany class. All of my uni struggles suddenly disappeared, and I was loving school for the first time. I want to foster an environment where students can find their passions and enjoy their university education! I feel grateful to be in a position where I can do that, but I never thought I would one day become a lecturer.
How do you tailor your teaching approach to engage and inspire today's students?
I have a lot of flexibility in my assessments, which allows students to dive deeper into their particular interests and skills.
What does being a teacher allow you to do that nothing else can?
I get to go learn and teach alongside brilliant people as part of my day-to-day job. I’m very fortunate to lead many field units at Monash, which takes me and my students to exciting localities from the Victorian Alps and inland desert, to the jungles of Borneo and the Pacific Islands.