Plants are the ultimate source of all our food. Why are different plants eaten in different cultures? Do we eat the same food as our ancestors? What challenges are we facing to feed the increasing human population and what possible solutions are there? In this course, we will examine a series of questions about plants as our food. We will use a cross-cultural perspective to answer these questions, first examining the origins of agriculture, then discussing current crop improvement strategies, and finally exploring future agricultural challenges and opportunities.

Plants are the ultimate source of all our food. Why are different plants eaten in different cultures? Do we eat the same food as our ancestors? What challenges are we facing to feed the increasing human population and what possible solutions are there? In this course, we will examine a series of questions about plants as our food. We will use a cross-cultural perspective to answer these questions, first examining the origins of agriculture, then discussing current crop improvement strategies, and finally exploring future agricultural challenges and opportunities.

How often do you reflect on what?s beneath your feet? Not just floors or asphalt, but the thin crust of the earth that we stand on: soils. We need soils to survive, but global challenges like climate change threaten how soils sustain us and the planet. How do we tell this story of soil crisis? What can we learn from imagining future soils? In this course, we?ll explore soils through storytelling, making sense of the world and sharing our understanding with others. We?ll dissect soil storytelling from scientific journals to science fiction, imagining possible futures for a planet in crisis.

How often do you reflect on what?s beneath your feet? Not just floors or asphalt, but the thin crust of the earth that we stand on: soils. We need soils to survive, but global challenges like climate change threaten how soils sustain us and the planet. How do we tell this story of soil crisis? What can we learn from imagining future soils? In this course, we?ll explore soils through storytelling, making sense of the world and sharing our understanding with others. We?ll dissect soil storytelling from scientific journals to science fiction, imagining possible futures for a planet in crisis.

What can the foods we eat tell us about physics? We all have physics intuition from our daily lives, beyond just how things move. One place in our homes that is full of physics is actually our kitchens. Physics is more than just particle physics or astrophysics, and one particular less well-known - but very active! - field is soft matter physics. Soft matter physics covers many of the things in our kitchens - from the foods we eat to our cleaning supplies - and these are all things that we have intuition for.

What can the foods we eat tell us about physics? We all have physics intuition from our daily lives, beyond just how things move. One place in our homes that is full of physics is actually our kitchens. Physics is more than just particle physics or astrophysics, and one particular less well-known - but very active! - field is soft matter physics. Soft matter physics covers many of the things in our kitchens - from the foods we eat to our cleaning supplies - and these are all things that we have intuition for.

Ever wondered why you feel differently in one building vs. another? What causes you to be willing to stay or leave a building or space? In this course, we will explore the implications of building design on its inhabitants? health, physical and psychological well-being. We will also discuss the impacts of buildings on the natural environment and the sustainability efforts that aim to control or reduce the negative relationship between the two.

Ever wondered why you feel differently in one building vs. another? What causes you to be willing to stay or leave a building or space? In this course, we will explore the implications of building design on its inhabitants? health, physical and psychological well-being. We will also discuss the impacts of buildings on the natural environment and the sustainability efforts that aim to control or reduce the negative relationship between the two.

Ever wondered why you feel differently in one building vs. another? What causes you to be willing to stay or leave a building or space? In this course, we will explore the implications of building design on its inhabitants? health, physical and psychological well-being. We will also discuss the impacts of buildings on the natural environment and the sustainability efforts that aim to control or reduce the negative relationship between the two.

Are you terrified of bugs? How are bugs essential for the planet? These little critters are everywhere; for every human on this planet, there are about 1.4 billion bugs! Insects make our world more interesting, painting it with stunning colors and lots of shapes. They pollinate most of our fruits and vegetables, are impressive recyclers, and regulate invasive plants and pest insects. These are only some of the multiple services they provide to the world.