Dr. Norbert Cordeiro
Dr. Cordeiro is a current Biology Professor at Roosevelt University. He received his undergraduate degree from Hampshire College in Massachusetts, and completed his Doctoral degree from UIC. His PhD is in Ecology and Evolution. I have had the opportunity to be a student of his and work side by side during research. He is a wonderful professor of Biology and passionate about everything he pursues. During Biology 202, Ecology and Evolution, I had the opportunity for one-on-one feedback and was able to form a relationship I would not have had at a bigger school.
Because of the small class sizes and type of learning environment Roosevelt creates I have had the privilege of doing research with Dr. Cordeiro at the Field Museum. We have been working on a project with birds from Africa. He has been observing these birds for years now and through some digging found there may be a new species that has been mistaken for another.
I asked Dr. Cordeiro a few questions about his research and work in Tanzania, Africa.
“I know you are very active with research, what are a few of the projects you are working on currently?”
Cordeiro: “Most research I am involved in is over a long term span. Because there is so much variation in the environment we need long-term research to understand the processes involved with biodiversity. There are two of several projects I can tell you about currently. The first involves vegetation plots in the East Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, we recently received a national geographic grant to continue our work with the plots. The East Usambara Mountains are important because they are considered an evolutionary center and sometimes coined the Galapagos of Africa. The purpose of these plots is to see where continued human disturbance creates more species of lower density. It would be like converting all prairies in the United States to lawns.”
“And project two?”
Cordeiro: “The second project we have been working on is detailing conservation over 20 years, we did a census, collected ecological information and conserved endangered long billed forest warbler of the East Usambara Mountains. Over the last 10 years the population stabilized, which is a good sign since in 1990 it was considered to be headed towards extinction”
“How often do you get to Tanzania each year?”
Cordeiro: “It is dependent on funding but usually around two times. One of the two is a trip with a Roosevelt University course I teach which happens every two years. The trip entails learning from Tanzanians and full cultural immersion with the Maasai people. The students are exposed to the Saharan climate and dry often named “hostile” environments. We also travel about 6 hours one of the days to a rainforest where students see the ecology of a tropical rainforest and learn about conservation. The trip is all Tanzanian run which is what makes it unique, it caters to the students and not a westernized experience of the area.”
Dr. Cordeiro says some of his students have described the trip as “life changing”. He said some have even become world ambassadors because of the respect and social consciousness they had when interacting with the people of Tanzania.
“I know you have a special place in your heart for birds, do you have a favorite?”
Cordeiro: “The African Crowned Eagle because it represents strength, wisdom, agility, and the cruelty of nature.”
“Last question, if you could give a future Roosevelt Science student one piece of advice, what would that be?”
Cordeiro: “Follow your heart and passion in whatever you do and make that a central part of who you are.”
I would like to thank Dr. Cordeiro for sitting down with me and spending some time giving us a little insight into his life apart from being a professor.
By: Zoey Bezilla