1. Learning in the lab and out in the field
Professor Stephen Carpenter was born in 1952 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. His mother was a school teacher and his father was a chemist. He was the eldest of three boys and was raised in an environment surrounded by nature where he spent a lot of time during his childhood. He would visit his paternal grandfather's farm in summers, learn about the land and help with the farmwork; such experiences were a treasure. His maternal grandfather lived in a big city. He loved fishing and hunting, and taught Stephen many skills used in fishing and hunting.