162 The UMAP Journal 30.2 (2009) about the authors Melissa Garrenis currently aPh.Dcan- didate inmarine biology at Scripps Institu- tion of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA. She earned her B S in molecular biology from Yale University and her M.S. in marine bi- ology from Scripps Institution of Oceanog raphy Herresearch focuses on the ecolo cal response of microbes to organic coastal ollution, particularly in coral reef envi- ronments, with the aim of understanding the effects on coral health and disease. Joe Myers has served for two decades in the Dept of Mathematical Sci- ences at the United States Military Academy. He holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and other disciplines and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He currently serves as a Professor, having directed freshman calculus, sophomore multivariable calculus, the electives program, and the research program. He has been involved in several major initiatives to improve teaching and learn- ing, including building interdisciplinary activities and programs under the ISF-sponsored Project Intermath; integrating technology and student laptop computers into the classroom; and weaving modeling, history, and writing threads into the mathematics curriculum. He enjoys modeling and problem solving has posed and guided the research of dozens of math majors, and has been involved in several research projects with the Army Research Laboratory162 The UMAP Journal 30.2 (2009) About the Authors Melissa Garrenis currently a Ph.D. can￾didate in marine biology at Scripps Institu￾tion of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA. She earned her B.S. in molecular biology from Yale University and her M.S. in marine bi￾ology fromScripps Institution of Oceanog￾raphy. Her research focuses on the ecologi￾cal response of microbes to organic coastal pollution, particularly in coral reef envi￾ronments, with the aim of understanding the effects on coral health and disease. Joe Myers has served for two decades in the Dept. of Mathematical Sci￾ences at the United States Military Academy. He holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and other disciplines and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He currently serves as a Professor, having directed freshman calculus, sophomore multivariable calculus, the electives program, and the research program. He has been involved in several major initiatives to improve teaching and learn￾ing, including building interdisciplinary activities and programs under the NSF-sponsored Project Intermath; integrating technology and student laptop computers into the classroom; and weaving modeling, history, and writing threads into the mathematics curriculum. He enjoys modeling and problem solving, has posed and guided the research of dozens of math majors, and has been involved in several research projects with the Army Research Laboratory