Cells are the foundation of all life. The structures and processes inside cells determine how life functions (or dysfunctions). We will discover what is known about how cells work through a combination of primary literature, laboratory research, and textbook readings. We will also discuss what is still not known and how scientists work to find the answers. The class structure will be divided into one day of lecture and one day of problem set review. Students that take Cell Biology should also enroll in Cell Biology Laboratory (NS-246), the laboratory component of the course.

Cell biology laboratory skills are the core foundational skills for all biomedical research. Students will maintain mammalian cell lines throughout the semester and conduct experiments using their cells using techniques such as transfections, fluorescence microscopy, proliferation assays, migration assays, and transwell invasion assays. The end of the semester will be reserved for students to design and conduct their own cell biology experiments. Students must also enroll in Cell Biology (NS-247), the main course component. Keywords:Biomedical research, neuroscience, cancer, stem cells

This course introduces students to basic mechanisms of diatonic harmony. Through analysis, performance, and composition, we will build a solid working understanding of basic principles of melody, harmony, and form common in many musical traditions that we consume in our everyday lives. In the first half of the course, we explore composition in 4-part polyphonic texture with and without modulation. In the second half, we explore modes as storytelling devices.

"Listening" occupies a special place in Japanese cultures. Indications abound in literature, folklore, and everyday practices that listening has been nurtured as a multisensory experience and that it encompasses a wide range of phenomena. Whether it be in the haiku poetry reading, religious ceremony, political protest, or mundane activity, listening enables people to transcend spatiotemporal boundaries, connect with the intangible and the invisible, and engage in the world and life in a deeper philosophical consciousness.

This course introduces students to fundamental calculus concepts via rich applied contexts. The course prioritizes mathematical thinking, experimentation, and clear communication while de-emphasizing symbolic manipulation and rote exercises. We will apply the ideas of calculus such as derivatives, differential equations, and integrals in a variety of contexts including epidemiology, ecology, and environmental sustainability. Students will use computers routinely to carry out calculations, experiment with parameter choices, and create informative graphs.

This course introduces students to fundamental topics in linear algebra. We will use Python to visualize concepts, implement algorithms, and perform calculations that would be intractable by hand. No prior Python experience is required. The focus of the course will be on applications in a variety of contexts, though there will be some theory as well. Topics will include systems of equations, vectors, matrix algebra, linear independence, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and matrix factorization.

In this course we will discuss the many types of memory we use daily, from remembering the name of a new friend, a favorite birthday party, or even how to ride a bike. We will explore the constructive nature of memories, some errors of memory, and how memory capabilities develop over the life course. Students will participate in demonstrations of various memory tasks and collect data to explore specific concepts. We will also discuss the neurological underpinnings of different memory systems.

Humans are recent tenants on an ancient Earth. Understanding Earth's remarkable history is enlightening yet humbling. Earth's history provides a critical lens for evaluating the environmental processes occurring in our modern world. In this course, we will travel through time to study the evolution of Earth from its fiery beginning over 4.5 billion years ago to the present day. We will explore the physical and biological evolution of Earth and gain an appreciation for Earth as a series of complex systems that interact dynamically and holistically.

There are many "rules" that accompany the writing of poetry-among them, the practice of the poet deploying an "economy of language," or revising one's work to eliminate redundancy, cliche, or weak diction. Economy of language has its place in drafting and revising poetry but isn't the only evidence of a knowledge of craft. Craft can also be displayed in the long poem, which this workshop will consider the long poem. How does the writer sustain the poem's focus, momentum, and direction? How does the writer emphasize "intent" given the expansiveness of the poem?

In this Supported Project seminar, which is part of the Climate Action (CA) series of learning opportunities, students will take on projects to advance Hampshire College's new Climate Action Plan. This course provides a structured, collaborative environment for students to pursue projects alone or as part of a project team. Students will design, refine, and implement projects to further Hampshire's climate action strategies and goals, such as improving composting, increasing energy use awareness, or designing educational programming.