Living Desert University
Natural Science
Living Desert University offers classes for individuals who want to learn more about the world around us, including our impact on it. Below you will find a sampling of our knowledgeable Natural Science instructors!
Jim Cornett
Jim Cornett has been compared to famed desert naturalist Edmund Jaeger. Like Jaeger, Cornett has a penchant for writing with more than twenty-five books to his credit, nearly all focusing on the desert. Through his writing and lecturing he is one of the best-known naturalists in the American Southwest. Mr. Cornett worked at the Palm Spring's Desert Museum from 1975 to 2004, when he retired as the Museum's Director of Natural Science. Since then he has been traveling, developing a series of articles and a book on the deserts of the world. He has now visited all 9 of the world's great deserts.
Darrell Hutchinson
After receiving his education degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, Darrell taught elementary school and special education in Canada and the US for more than twenty years. He helped conduct biological studies throughout North & South America, including the rain forests of Costa Rica and the Amazon. For the last seven years, he's worked in the Colorado Desert as a field biologist for UC Riverside and as a private contractor. His professional interests include ornithology, botany, ecology and paleoanthropology. Together, with his partner Dr. Monica Swartz, he enjoys music, ethnographic art, gardening, and adventure travel.
Scott Scott
Scott has lived in the Valley for more than 20 years. He started Trail Discovery in 1992 to give visitors a 'vehicle' into the desert environment. He has a deep love for nature/wilderness and all living things, and enjoys sharing his knowledge & experience with others. Scott, and fellow guides, have led over 15,000 guests to wilderness locations in & around Palm Springs. He is an avid climber, trail runner & activist to preserve the wild and free places of this planet. Scott treks extensively in our local mountain ranges, averaging a 5,000 - 10,000ft. vertical gain a week!
Robert Sprackland
Dr. Robert George Sprackland, Director of the Virtual Museum of Natural History, is an internationally recognized herpetologist and author, who's served as a zoological consultant to the BBC and Discovery Channel. He's conducted tropical biodiversity surveys, principally in Australia and New Guinea. Some of his fieldwork was featured on the television show O'Shea's Big Adventure. Dr. Sprackland earned his Ph.D. at the University of London, and has taught at several colleges. He has published numerous books, and scores of articles about natural history and education.
For information on specific classes, or to find out more about all of Living Desert University's exemplary teaching staff, please use the links provided to the left.
Jim Cornett
Jim Cornett has been compared to famed desert naturalist Edmund Jaeger. Like Jaeger, Cornett has a penchant for writing with more than twenty-five books to his credit, nearly all focusing on the desert. Through his writing and lecturing he is one of the best-known naturalists in the American Southwest. Mr. Cornett worked at the Palm Spring's Desert Museum from 1975 to 2004, when he retired as the Museum's Director of Natural Science. Since then he has been traveling, developing a series of articles and a book on the deserts of the world. He has now visited all 9 of the world's great deserts.
Darrell Hutchinson
After receiving his education degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, Darrell taught elementary school and special education in Canada and the US for more than twenty years. He helped conduct biological studies throughout North & South America, including the rain forests of Costa Rica and the Amazon. For the last seven years, he's worked in the Colorado Desert as a field biologist for UC Riverside and as a private contractor. His professional interests include ornithology, botany, ecology and paleoanthropology. Together, with his partner Dr. Monica Swartz, he enjoys music, ethnographic art, gardening, and adventure travel.
Scott Scott
Scott has lived in the Valley for more than 20 years. He started Trail Discovery in 1992 to give visitors a 'vehicle' into the desert environment. He has a deep love for nature/wilderness and all living things, and enjoys sharing his knowledge & experience with others. Scott, and fellow guides, have led over 15,000 guests to wilderness locations in & around Palm Springs. He is an avid climber, trail runner & activist to preserve the wild and free places of this planet. Scott treks extensively in our local mountain ranges, averaging a 5,000 - 10,000ft. vertical gain a week!
Robert Sprackland
Dr. Robert George Sprackland, Director of the Virtual Museum of Natural History, is an internationally recognized herpetologist and author, who's served as a zoological consultant to the BBC and Discovery Channel. He's conducted tropical biodiversity surveys, principally in Australia and New Guinea. Some of his fieldwork was featured on the television show O'Shea's Big Adventure. Dr. Sprackland earned his Ph.D. at the University of London, and has taught at several colleges. He has published numerous books, and scores of articles about natural history and education.
For information on specific classes, or to find out more about all of Living Desert University's exemplary teaching staff, please use the links provided to the left.
