Biological Sciences 249 - The Naturalist Habit
The Naturalist Habit
Fall
2023
01
4.00
Jason Andras
T 01:30PM-04:20PM
Mount Holyoke College
122067
Clapp Laboratory 420
jandras@mtholyoke.edu
In this course, we will explore the rich natural history of our region, focusing on organisms in their natural habitat and contemplating questions and approaches we might employ to better understand them and the ways in which they live. We will place particular emphasis on developing the habits of close and curious observation and coupling those habits with the skills and methods of scientific hypothesis development, experimental design, and field ecology.
Prereq: Any 100-level biology course (145 or 160) and BIOL-200.
Class meetings will consist almost entirely of field trips to local natural areas, where we will spend most of our time outdoors. Field trips will proceed in all safe weather (e.g. cold, rain, wind, etc.), and attendance is mandatory. BIOL-249 counts as…