This course examines the changing role of "race" in American politics and society, focusing in particular on change over time in public opinion, media portrayals, and campaigns and elections. As we investigate these themes, we will analyz the impact of political communication on race relations, and evaluate strategies that could help to improve interracial relations in society.

The vast majority of Earth?s biodiversity is microbial. Microorganisms are directly involved in the ecosystem services on which all of life depends. They interact intimately with other organisms and yet we know much less about their biodiversity than we do for plants and animals. Our lack of understanding of the interactions and feedbacks of microbial biodiversity is troubling, given the high rates of environmental change that the Earth is currently experiencing, including man-made global climate change.