[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:43:17.758702+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI0MDgxMDYw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:383653","instructor_name":"Donna Fernandez","course_label":"ZOOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2014-12-15 02:26:22 +0000 UTC","comment":"She said that we wouldn't need to use the book to do well on the test, and she was wrong. You need to do the readings otherwise you'll do average on the test (if you're looking to do well, do the readings). Also very unorganized.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/383653","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:43:11.707280+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTExODk2NjI4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:326397","instructor_name":"Doug Rouse","course_label":"ZOOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2006-05-16 15:21:07 +0000 UTC","comment":"very helpful and truly cares for his students and made the class go quickly b/c he engaged you into his lectures.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/326397","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:39:21.192341+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMzYwNzY0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2972810","instructor_name":"Farrah  Madison ","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-20 18:55:31 +0000 UTC","comment":"Madison is one of the three professors for Bio 151 and when compared to the other two, her lectures are not as engaging. Overall she lectures well, but I found myself spending more time outside of class to understand her topics. The labs also required some outside class hours but the TAs are also helpful to guide you through completing lab reports!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2972810","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:11:48.958044+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzNzUyNjkx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2530094","instructor_name":"Phil Newmark","course_label":"ZOOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2020-10-30 19:53:26 +0000 UTC","comment":"Yeah, he is a HHMI professor, but he is a bad news. He can't emphasize what is important and if you ask what's important, he flips out. He cares so much about the "history" of how things are found, but not "how" things work in biological sense. His lecture does not match nowhere to his hw, quizzes, and lecture activities. Avoid him like SARS-CoV2.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2530094","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:11:48.958044+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyNDI1NzA5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2530094","instructor_name":"Phil Newmark","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2019-11-16 19:10:38 +0000 UTC","comment":"Dr. Newmark is more focused on teaching the discovery of material we learn instead of the actual material. This makes learning the material a bit more difficult since it requires students to engage in deep thinking. He is a good professor if you are interested in actually learning about genetics but not the best if you are just focused on grades.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2530094","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:06:22.459419+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMzYwNzIy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:777115","instructor_name":"Seth Blair","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-20 18:51:01 +0000 UTC","comment":"Blair is one of the three professors for Bio 151 and he is overall a solid professor. The content that he teaches is genetics and although it is a fairly dull portion of the semester, he makes things clear and easy to understand. The labs required some outside class hours but the TAs are also helpful to guide you through completing lab reports!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/777115","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:06:22.459419+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzNjY2MDcy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:777115","instructor_name":"Seth Blair","course_label":"ZOOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2020-09-28 08:19:41 +0000 UTC","comment":"Amazing lecture slides. He makes you love biology but is a little fast paces because of the course.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/777115","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:06:22.459419+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTExODk2NjQ4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:777115","instructor_name":"Seth Blair","course_label":"ZOOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2006-05-16 15:23:16 +0000 UTC","comment":"very good lectures, he does jump around but he always makes it interesting with lame jokes. exam was fairly hard but overall an interesting prof.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/777115","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:06:22.459419+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTExNDc3NTc2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:777115","instructor_name":"Seth Blair","course_label":"ZOOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2006-02-12 10:04:19 +0000 UTC","comment":"No Comments","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/777115","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMzYwNjk0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-20 18:46:55 +0000 UTC","comment":"Gilroy is easily the best professor out of all three for Bio 151. This course is moderately difficult and memorization heavy on exams, but Gilroy makes the content engaging and easy to learn through his cheerful attitude and smiles. The labs required some outside class hours but the TAs are also helpful to guide you through completing lab reports! ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMzM3Mjkz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-18 23:20:57 +0000 UTC","comment":"Amazing professor, super engaging and brings great energy to the class- would definitely take again! ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMjM1ODY0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-14 00:29:24 +0000 UTC","comment":"He is very passionate about plants and I think that is beautiful. He also has very long luxurious hair and I think that's great. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMjMzNDE2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-13 21:44:46 +0000 UTC","comment":"Gilroy was an amazing professor whose love and passion showed through in each lecture. He made it exciting to go to lecture each day. Expectations for what we needed to know and to what extent were very clearly laid out and he was exceptional at simplifying complex topics. You should absolutely jump for joy if you see Gilroy as your professor. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMTkwOTQ3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-11 23:12:04 +0000 UTC","comment":"He was a very good lecturer who made class engaging and interesting. Overall, he was super funny, and I genuinely understood the material because of him. I did feel that his exam was not as representative of what we learned as I thought it would be.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMTY1MDcy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2025-12-11 02:02:31 +0000 UTC","comment":"Dr. Gilroy is amazing! He makes lectures genuinely fun to be in and he's very helpful if you have questions. You could tell that he was committed to making the class fun and not as stressful. Plus, the cute kittens!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1ODM3NjUz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2022-02-08 17:45:36 +0000 UTC","comment":"Gilroy is easily the best professor I have ever had at UW. He does a phenomenal job of explaining complex topics in terms that are more easily understandable and is always willing to answer any questions during or after lecture. I would take a million classes with him if I could. His hawaiian shirts actually made my day every single lecture.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyNzU2NDc5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2019-12-25 04:35:18 +0000 UTC","comment":"I suck at bio and found this class really hard, but Gilroy is really good at lecturing and dumbing down some complicated topics. He is super interesting and his tests are very fair. He posts lectures and doesn't require reading the book.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyNTIzMTY0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2019-12-04 18:02:00 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lectures were amazing as Simon lives his job and wants you to be interested too. The quizzes and exams are right from lectures so you dont need to buy the book. Lab and discussion are a different story however. Just depends on who your TA is","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyNDU3ODg3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2019-11-21 20:02:16 +0000 UTC","comment":"This professor was AMAZING!! Hes so funny and genuinely cares about the class and its content. The tests are 100% based on lectures and the lectures are on line so you dont have to go. No surprises","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI1ODU2NTI0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2016-01-01 14:20:19 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Gilroy was one of the best prof's I've had at UW.  He is very entertaining in class and his love for cats just makes him that much more interesting.  His english accent helps as well which just compliments his long white hair and his combo of floral shirts with cargo shorts.  Lectures could drag on but attending was always profitable.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI1NzcxNDMy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2015-12-19 11:29:44 +0000 UTC","comment":"SImon loves Biology and it shows in his lectures. Very talented teacher and he does awesome research too. Tests and quizzes are tough, but the material itself is pretty tough. Great professor to take even if you're not a bio major and just looking for some background. All test questions come from lectures so the textbook just helps explain things.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:31.339179+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTIxNTIwNjUw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2774867","instructor_name":"Simon Gilroy","course_label":"BIOLOGY151","course_id":"BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151","course_uid":"course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d","review_date":"2013-04-11 16:15:08 +0000 UTC","comment":"Prof. Gilroy may be my favorite professor on campus to date the only downside to this goofy gentleman are his tests which are quite tricky. Simon looks like Dumbledore in a tropical shirt and his lectures are just as entertaining as his attire. Lab work is pretty awful but that isn't his doing","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774867","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0}]