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A professor becomes an author

A professor becomes an author

Amy McEuen, professor of biology, UIS, visits the WTAX Morning Newswatch, July 28, 2026 Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Dahl WTAX


Springfield, IL. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A professor of biology at the University of Illinois Springfield College of Health, Science and Technology, has published a book. Dr. Amy McEuen, author of “How to Think Like an Ecologist: A Non-Scientist’s Guide to Saving Our Planet” was on the WTAX Morning Newswatch to discuss her book.

I’ve been teaching out at UIS for more than 20 years, and I just, I love being in the classroom. 
I love interacting with students. And I started to think about, when I retire, how am I going to teach outside of the classroom? So, really, to some extent, that’s what my book is. 
It’s an attempt to get the topics that I teach and I’m really passionate about out into a broader audience.”

Being an author takes dedication and time. How long did this take her?

It’s been in my head for a while. It was so nice that the university gave me a sabbatical leave, so I had last spring semester, a semester away from teaching at the university and service, and I could just focus on writing. So that’s what I did. 
I had only a couple of chapters done before I took that sabbatical. So, most of it really got written over that academic term.”

 

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