Linda R. Berg is an award-winning teacher and textbook author. She received a B.S. in science education, M.S. in botany, and Ph.D. in plant physiology from the University of Maryland. Her research focused on the evolutionary implications of steroid biosynthetic pathways in various organisms.
Dr. Berg taught at the University of Maryland-College Park, for 17 years, and at St. Petersburg Junior College in Florida for 10 years. She has taught introductory courses in environmental science, biology, and botany to thousands of students and has received numerous teaching and service awards. Dr. Berg is also the recipient of many national and regional awards, including the National Science Teachers Association Award for Innovations in College Teaching, the Nation's Capital Area Disabled Student Services Award, and the Washington Academy of Sciences Award in University Science Teaching.

Mary Catherine Hager is a professional science writer and editor specializing in educational materials for life and earth sciences. She received her double-major B.A. in Environmental Science and Biology from the University of Virginia, and her M.S. in Zoology from the University of Georgia. Her Master’s research focused on behavioral ecology of schooling fishes.
Upon completion of her Master’s degree, Ms. Hager worked as an editor for an environmental consulting firm, and as a senior editor for a scientific reference publisher. For the past 15 years, Ms. Hager has worked as a self-employed writer and editor in Lafayette, Louisiana. She has published articles in environmental trade magazines, edited comprehensive federal and state reports addressing wetlands conservation issues, and written components of biology and environmental science textbooks for target audiences ranging from middle school to college.
Ms. Hager considers her writing and editing pursuits to be a natural product of her scientific training and curiosity coupled with her love of reading and communicating effectively.