First Year Seminar 191CNS32 - FYS-What Bacteria Can Teach Us

In the human body, bacteria and microorganisms outnumber your human cells 10 to 1. They have adapted ways to thrive in even the harshest of environments ? toxic hot springs, polar ice caps, hydrothermal vents, and the human body. In order to thrive in these varied environments, bacteria must be persistent, adaptable, diverse, resilient, strong, and even ?creative? and ?curious.? Using bacteria as our model, we will explore lessons about adapting to new environments to thrive at UMass and beyond. Together we will discover how bacteria can inform the way we think about ourselves, our environments, and our challenges.

First year (Fr or Soph)