First Year Seminar 191CNS42 - FYS-Magical World of Soil

Is soil alive? Or is it just plain dirt? The answer may surprise you: there are more living things in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on the planet. Together, we will take a journey through the world of soil. We will uncover the creepy crawlies who run our planet, shaping and changing it before our very eyes. Discover what earthworms, fungi, nematodes, viruses, and bacteria do for a living. Explore how they impact soils across the globe. How do they change the soil, and how does the soil change them? Could they be a key to our very survival in the face of climate change? Hint: almost certainly. This class will explore these questions through hands-on activities and inspire you to take a closer look at the natural world around you. We will literally dig in and observe these creatures in their natural habitat and then bring them back to the classroom to identify and illustrate them. Be prepared to get your hands a little dirty, see what's living in UMASS grounds, and have some fun finding out what's living just beneath your feet.

First year (Fr or Soph)