What do research on loons in Wisconsin, filmmaking at Cornell and lecturing in Antarctica have in common? Charles Walcott, former dean of the university faculty and professor emeritus of neurobiology and behavior.

Walcott, 76, has spent a lifetime in research and teaching -- and making the results known to broader audiences. He came to Cornell in 1981 as a full professor and as director of the Lab of Ornithology. Named the lab's first Louis Agassiz Fuertes director in 1992, he later left that position to resume teaching and research and went on to lead the Division of Biological Sciences (1998-99) and the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior (1999-2001), before joining the University Faculty office and then serving as dean, 2003-08.

Although retired, Walcott remains as actively involved in the life of Cornell as ever.

His research on loons continues today, and he has posted a mini-documentary of his team's findings on a Study Room on Cybertower.

Walcott also devotes much of his time to filmmaking -- a passion he had to shelve while serving as dean: "I started back in college, when there was a new television station in town, WBGH." That later led to his producing a couple of films for "Nova," as well as helping to write some of the show's early proposals.

Walcott also was content director for the children's science program "3, 2, 1 Contact," produced by Children's Television Workshop, who also produced "Sesame Street." "I've had quite a lot of experience and fun in thinking about how you get people involved in science through the media," he said. "All that involved a film crew and was at great expense."

Walcott noted that now these projects can be done much more cheaply and "the quality is superb."

Today, Walcott carries his own tripod and video equipment, interviewing Cornell faculty and condensing their research into short film clips. "Cybertower already had hourlong learned lectures by my distinguished colleagues. I thought it would be fun to do five- to 10-minute films on them," he said. Walcott has just completed one on the hearing and mating of mosquitoes and is now filming research on strokes in mice.

"The university has been wonderful. They've been incredibly supportive," Walcott said, noting that he still has his office, a lab, a graduate student to assist him -- and a free parking permit.

Walcott also just served as a lecturer for Cornell's Adult University's January trip to Antarctica.

Walcott believes that just as the Cornell connection is good for retired faculty, so retired faculty are good for Cornell. "Retired faculty can help. As I've talked with the people at CAPE [Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti], a lot of them are still doing things associated with the university -- not necessarily the same things as before they were retired, but they are still very much involved." He noted that some still carry on their research and advise students, while others serve on committees.

Walcott said that retiring faculty could benefit from guidance on ways to stay connected to Cornell. "It's been easy for me because as dean I got to know a lot of people," he said.

Walcott is still university marshal and chair of the University Assembly. He is also chair of the Middle States accreditation committee on integrity, governance and administration, a member of the CIT Steering Committee and a faculty fellow at Becker House. He serves on the boards of directors of the Tompkins County United Way and the Sciencenter of Ithaca.

"You can be just as busy after retirement as before," Walcott said. "It's just a little more flexible."