First Year Seminar 191CNS56 - FYS- Topics in CNS

First-year (R1ST) Title: Edible Ecosystems: The Hidden Life Influencing Our Food
Millions of unseen microbes impact our lives in ways we still struggle to understand. A lot of these microbes live in and around our food, and have tangible consequences for us, impacting food's flavor, texture, and color, and even affecting our physical and mental health for better or for worse. In this course, we will explore the fascinating world of food microbiology through the lenses of microbial and evolutionary ecology that we humans have had a hand in (either unintentionally or deliberately). By questioning the origins of microbes in food and how they interact, we will gain novel insights into the life inside and around our food that impact flavor development, spoilage, and disease propagation in our food systems. In addition to gaining valuable insights into university life, you will learn to engage with primary literature, hear from cutting-edge researchers, and snack in the name of science!