Walter. K. Dodds received his Ph.D. in Biology in 1986 from the University of Oregon. From 1987 to 1990 he was a post doctoral fellow in the Department of Biology at Montana State University. In 1990 he accepted an Assistant Professor position in the Division of Biology at Kansas State University, in 1995 he was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2002 to full Professor. Over the years, Dodds has taught Limnology, Advanced Aquatic Ecology, Microbial Ecology, Principles of Biology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Problems, Origins of Life, Herbivory, Presentations in Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Stream Ecology, Algal Identification, Algal Ecology, Bacteriology and Freshwater Biology. He has professional memberships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, the American Society of Microbiology, the North American Benthological Society, the Phycological Society of America and Sigma Xi. Dodds has grants from agencies including the National Science Foundation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He has been involved in the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program and provides leadership for the Konza LTER Aquatic and Hydrological Group and the Konza LTER Research Experience for Undergraduates program.

Dodds' recent research has focused on Aquatic Ecology on Konza Prairie, Nitrogen Uptake Retention and Cycling in Stream Ecosystems, Quality and Quantity of Suspended Solids in Kansas Rivers, and Nutrients and Algae in Streams. Dodds has been invited to present seminars at over 20 US agencies and universities, as well as agencies and universities in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. He has presented at numerous national and international scientific conferences and has produced over 80 peer reviewed publications.

1. Why study continental aquatic systems?2. Properties of water3. Movement of light, heat and chemicals in water4. Hydrologic cycle and physiography of groundwater habitats5. Hydrology and physiography of wetland habitats6. Physiography of flowing water7. Lakes and reservoirs: physiography8. Types of Aquatic Organisms9. Microbes and plants10. Multicellular animals11. Evolution of organisms and biodiversity of freshwater measures of diversity12. Aquatic chemistry and factors controlling nutrient cycling: Redox and O213. Carbon14. Nitrogen, Sulfur, Phosphorus and other nutrients15. Unusual or extreme habitats16. Response to stress, toxic chemicals and other pollutants in aquatic ecosystems17. Nutrient use and remineralization18. Trophic state and eutrophication19. Behavior and interactions among microorganisms and invertebrates20. Predation and food webs21. Nonpredatory interspecific interactions among plants22. Complex community interactions23. Fish ecology and fisheries24. Freshwater ecosystems25. Conclusions