Hello, I’m Mr. Nelson. Hiking into the Grand Canyon, climbing above tree line in the Sierra Nevadas, camping out under the stars of the Mojave Desert and sharing science with my students in the science lab are among my favorite places to be.
I consider myself a true Renaissance man, interested in almost any imaginable subject. I have seriously studied subjects ranging from archeology, physics, geology and astronomy to Russian history, baseball and the art of cartooning and would love to be a writer some day.
This is my third year as a science specialist for the Irvine Unified School District. As a life-long learner and a self-admitted “reading junkie”, I devour a hefty science book, history book or classic novel every other week. As a boy, I spent all my time outside studying nature, playing baseball, or reading adventure books (Alexander the Great and the climbing of Mount Everest really interested me then). Prior to life as an instructor of young scientists, I attended California State University at Fullerton, receiving a Bachelors degree in geography with emphasis in urban planning, this despite taking enough classes to earn five different degrees. Working my way through college as a draftsman, upon graduation I was offered a job as a mechanical engineer in the semi-conductor industry which I found to be a stimulating pursuit for over twenty years.
Backpacking, hiking and playing hockey are my favorite activities. I have also run (and completed) the LA marathon, scuba dived, been skydiving, joined in on numerous archaeological digs and traveled throughout Europe, Greece, Egypt, Canada and the United States.
I have been married for over 20 years. My wife is a registered nurse and we have twin sons in college and a third son who attends a science magnet school in Orange. While my sons were young, I coached them through eight years of Little League baseball and participated another six years as an adult leader of Boy Scouts.
As challenging as engineering was it doesn’t compare to enriching young minds with the wonders of science and nature. At this point in my life I feel I have so much to share and young scholars respond back by keeping my mind sharp and ever questioning. My hope is that my students will reach for the stars … literally.
Hello, I’m Mr. Nelson. Hiking into the Grand Canyon, climbing above tree line in the Sierra Nevadas, camping out under the stars of the Mojave Desert and sharing science with my students in the science lab are among my favorite places to be.