First Year Seminar 191CNS2 - FYS- Topics in CNS

First-year (R1ST) Course Title: From Coffee to Sneakers: The Plants We Don't See
Why does coffee keep you awake? Why do onions make you cry? Why do chili peppers burn your mouth? And what do plants have to do with your clothes, sneakers, medicine, and the air you breathe? Plants are everywhere in our daily lives, but most of the time we barely notice them. In this seminar, we will explore the hidden roles of plants in culture, clothing, and climate. Through examples such as coffee, chocolate, spices, cotton, rubber, medicines, and campus trees, we will ask how plants defend themselves, survive stress, and shape human society. No previous biology background is required; curiosity is enough. Class sessions will include hands-on activities, small-group discussions, real-world examples, greenhouse tours and short reflections. Along the way, you will connect science to your life while building skills for college success. By the end of the course, you may never look at your morning coffee, lunch, sneakers, or the plants around you the same way again.