What causes extinction? What can scientists and the public do to protect and conserve species diversity? This course will explore conservation biology: a mission-oriented field that uses science to protect and restore species and ecosystems. Students will construct case studies of conservation problems, debate controversial issues like genetic engineering of extinct species, and think critically about how to tackle pressing conservation challenges through science and community action.

Landing a date can be hard and sometimes you just can't find the right words to attract your love interest. But don't fret - you're not alone! Across the animal kingdom, many other species are in a similar predicament, and have evolved fascinating communication systems in order to advertise themselves in hopes of finding a companion. This course will explore the brains and behavior that lead to complex communication acts different animals employ to attract a mate, including birds that moonwalk, and fish that talk through electricity.

Ever wonder why birds sing or how bats catch prey in the dark? Animals use sound for a variety of functions critical to survival and reproduction: to attract mates, to navigate complex environments, to signal approaching threats, and more. In this seminar, we'll dive underwater with singing whales and clicking dolphins, and learn how scientists all over the world are decoding animal communication and exploring nature's acoustic landscape, one sound wave at a time.

This course will examine the intersection of ecology and economy of one of New England's iconic products: maple syrup. We will explore sugar maple's unique tree biology; the history of maple syrup production, including how technology, policy, and economics affect the industry; and the impacts of climate change on maple syrup and the forests it comes from. Students will learn to "think like a scientist" and develop skills in observation, making hypotheses, and understanding data while learning about nature's sweetener.

We live in a time where more than 1,500 products on the market are advertised as being nanotechnology-based. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials are generally associated with electronics, but they are now used in medicine and even in our shirts, socks and sunglasses. What makes nanomaterials so desirable? What happens when we dispose of nanomaterials? Are nanomaterials dangerous if they get into our soils and water systems? In this seminar, students will learn the basic principles, the applications, and the potential health risks of nanomaterials through discussions and hands-on activities.

Paging Dr. Frankenfish! Is the genetic modification of other species by human scientists "ethical"? How do biologists approach moral problems and how can we make ethical decisions in our own everyday lives? In this class we will analyze such issues as animal testing, genetic modification, and eugenics practices from both a biological and a philosophical perspective. We will learn how to deconstruct academic articles and begin to navigate our way through the complex and often murky world of bioethics.

Did you know that dragonflies are the world's deadliest hunters? Or that mosquitoes kill over 1 million people every year? Join me in exploring topics in ecology, conservation, human-insect interactions, and what it means to be a scientist through the fascinating world of insects. Topics include mosquitoes: the good, the bad and the ugly, how to read a scientific paper, humanizing scientific research, and a workshop in catching and preserving insects. Come prepared to be curious, think critically, and learn new skills; it'll 'bee' delightful.

Why do we sleep? We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, yet we still don't fully know the answer to this question. This course will cover topics including the functions of sleep, sleep stages and dreaming, consequences of sleep loss, how sleep changes across the lifespan, and more! Students will learn how sleep is studied scientifically and how healthy sleep habits can benefit them throughout college.

We are all surrounded by plants every day, the food we eat from our plates, the flowers in backyard and fruits in orchids. Let us look at plants in a revolutionary way and understand how they get nutrients, trap insects, compete with each other and have sex. In this seminar course, we will look into photosynthesis, plant toxins, carnivorous plants, flower colors and other plant related topics from a more scientific perspective. You will enjoy cool photos and videos, exciting research paper and a field trip to Durfee Conservatory in our learning journey!

From the beginning of agriculture to hotdogs and Oreos, what are we actually eating and why? Grocery stores and restaurants provide us with an abundance of options, but should we be eating what they provide? In this class, we will go over how the human diet has changed over the past 10,000 years and how this has impacted science, society, and technology. We will mostly focus on modern food topics including food myths, GMOs, food policy, and the environmental impacts of agriculture. To accomplish learning goals, we will have a variety of interactive in-class and take home assignments.