About the Authors

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::Kathleen Park Talaro::/sites/dl/free/0072320427/25181/kathy.jpg','popWin', 'width=191,height=287,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif">Kathleen Park Talaro (29.0K)</a>Kathleen Park Talaro

Kathleen Park Talaro is a microbiologist, author, illustrator, photographer, and educator at Pasadena City College.

Kathy has had a keen interest in biology and microbiology ever since she was a child. From her earliest youth on a farm in Blackfoot, Idaho, she was drawn naturally to science and to observing the living world. Her curiosity extended to plants, insects, amphibians, and farm animals, but it was the amazing idea of the tiny creatures swimming around in her father's fishpond that totally captured her attention.

Growing up in this small, nurturing community with a supportive family helped her develop skills as an artist and writer, starting with her first small book (a cowboy story) at the age of 6. This desire to create with words and pictures found an outlet in journalism classes and on the high school newspaper staff. All the while, she sharpened her science knowledge by participating in science fairs and classes.

She began her college education at Idaho State University in Pocatello. Again, she found a niche that fit her particular abilities and interests, spending part of her time as a scientific illustrator for one of her professors and part as a biology lab assistant. After graduation with a B.S. in biology, she entered graduate school at Arizona State University, majoring in physiological ecology. During this time, she was married (to Arthur Talaro), had a daughter, Nicole, and participated in two research expeditions to British Columbia with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Excited by the diversity and career opportunities available in California, she moved to Pasadena and began working as a microbiologist at Pasadena City College. Kathy continued to expand her background, first finishing a Masters degree at Occidental College, and later taking additional specialized coursework in microbiology at California Institute of Technology and California State University.

If there is one continuing theme reverberating through Kathy's experiences, it is the love of education and teaching. She has been teaching allied health microbiology and major's biology courses for nearly 25 years. "It is so exciting to watch the students develop their early awareness of microorganisms--when they first come face-to-face with the reality of them on their hands, in the air, in their food, and, of course, nearly everywhere. At first, they obsess a little bit about 'germs' and hand washing, but in time, I see the light in their eyes as they begin to understand and apply what they have learned in a sophisticated way. My students come back to visit after going on to professional schools and emphasize the life-changing effect this learning and knowledge of the microscopic realm has had on them."

Kathy is a member of the American Society for Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She keeps active in self-study and research, and continues to attend workshops and conferences to remain current in her field. Her special interests are general medical microbiology and biotechnology. She has been actively involved in science outreach programs for young people by teaching Saturday workshops in microbiology and DNA technology to high school and junior high students.

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=gif::Arthur Talaro::/sites/dl/free/0072320427/25181/art.gif','popWin', 'width=191,height=287,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif">Arthur Talaro (30.0K)</a>Arthur Talaro

Arthur Talaro is a recently retired professor of microbiology from Pasadena City College.

The study of microbiology began almost accidentally for Arthur, first as an elective course in a zoology major curriculum at the University of Hawaii, from which he received his Bachelor's degree. Arthur went on to study at Idaho State University and to receive his Master's degree in biology with a minor in microbiology. He continued his graduate studies at the University of California but was distracted by an irresistible opportunity at Pasadena City College in the form of a teaching position in biology, physiology, and microbiology. His academic training seemed a prefect fit for the advertised job description, yet being selected signified the real beginning of a personal immersion and fascination with the subject as never before. For twenty-five years, primarily through reading scientific literature, attending society meetings, preparing lecture and laboratory materials, and through interactive learning with his pupils, Arthur enjoyed learning more of microbiology and of nature in general.

About his new role in retirement, Arthur has this to say, " Retirement not withstanding, I am a pupil in a virtual classroom, and the pace of learning is undiminished as I pursue diverse Internet resources in science. One of my roles is to gather new and historic information for the revisions of this textbook. This task is really a labor of love since I derive much satisfaction in being able to contribute something to assist the many able and dedicated teachers who, term after term, have the Herculean responsibility of distilling microbiology for presentation. Equally rewarding is the sense of any contribution I might make to foster the curiosity and critical thinking of students. These are the real basis for my endeavors."

Arthur has also completely revised the test bank that accompanies this new edition of Foundations in Microbiology , updating and expanding the selection of questions across the board.

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