About

Welcome to my blog about the natural history of the Texas Rolling Plains of west central Texas, centered around my home near Abilene, TX!

DoctorBot a.k.a Rick L Hammer, Ph.D. This selfie pic was taken at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong, Kansas in July 2018

I am “DoctorBot” and use this avatar on several FaceBook Pages. I am a plant taxonomist and overall evolutionary biologist by training and interest and earned a Ph.D. in Botany and Ecology from Texas A&M University.

I am an Assocate Professor of Biology at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX . I regularly teach plant biology and general ecology, field systematic botany, and computer applications in biology. I am also the curator of the Hardin-Simmons Herbarium (HSU).

I am also President & Chair of the West Texas Science Center, a 301(c) nonprofit located in Abilene. One of our major programs is the continuing development of an urban nature park in Abilene, Lake Kirby Nature Park.

A major driving passion of mine is to bring people into contact with the natural world and to foster their appreciation for biodiversity in all of its forms. Many of the posts you will read in this blog are a result of this passion.