How do we forecast unpredictable natural hazards and prepare for possible disasters? What happens when our best guesses about what will happen are wrong? In this class we'll explore how we interpret geologic data, communicate risks to the public, and make public policy decisions based on that information. Then, you'll take on the role of a scientist, community member, government official, or journalist in a quickly-growing resort town facing a possible volcanic eruption. Your community must decide: do you abandon the town, needlessly risking livelihoods if the threat is false?

Is soil alive? Or is it just plain dirt? The answer may surprise you: there are more living things in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on the planet. Together, we will take a journey through the world of soil. We will uncover the creepy crawlies who run our planet, shaping and changing it before our very eyes. Discover what earthworms, fungi, nematodes, viruses, and bacteria do for a living. Explore how they impact soils across the globe. How do they change the soil, and how does the soil change them? Could they be a key to our very survival in the face of climate change?

Is soil alive? Or is it just plain dirt? The answer may surprise you: there are more living things in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on the planet. Together, we will take a journey through the world of soil. We will uncover the creepy crawlies who run our planet, shaping and changing it before our very eyes. Discover what earthworms, fungi, nematodes, viruses, and bacteria do for a living. Explore how they impact soils across the globe. How do they change the soil, and how does the soil change them? Could they be a key to our very survival in the face of climate change?

Is soil alive? Or is it just plain dirt? The answer may surprise you: there are more living things in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on the planet. Together, we will take a journey through the world of soil. We will uncover the creepy crawlies who run our planet, shaping and changing it before our very eyes. Discover what earthworms, fungi, nematodes, viruses, and bacteria do for a living. Explore how they impact soils across the globe. How do they change the soil, and how does the soil change them? Could they be a key to our very survival in the face of climate change?

How do animals perceive their surroundings? In the ancient Greek philosopher Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," prisoners able to see only the dancing shadows of a flame neglect to consider the hidden objects that cast them. We, too, are forced to create our own representation of reality using a mere sliver of filtered information. The cleverest human, smallest fly, and grandest whale are all confined to their self-centered worlds crafted by the senses. In this class, we will exit Plato's Cave and explore our own senses to better understand the secret lives of animals.

How do animals perceive their surroundings? In the ancient Greek philosopher Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," prisoners able to see only the dancing shadows of a flame neglect to consider the hidden objects that cast them. We, too, are forced to create our own representation of reality using a mere sliver of filtered information. The cleverest human, smallest fly, and grandest whale are all confined to their self-centered worlds crafted by the senses. In this class, we will exit Plato's Cave and explore our own senses to better understand the secret lives of animals.

Did you know that there are trillions of tiny organisms living on and inside of your body? Microbes are found in even the most extreme environments. Many microorganisms are considered either sidekicks that make our lives better or villains that harm us. In this class, you will be introduced to animal and plant superheroes such as koalas with incredible ability to consume poisonous eucalyptus thanks to the microbial sidekicks living in their guts. We will culture microorganisms from varying sample locations and form hypotheses on what and how much we expect to grow.

Did you know that there are trillions of tiny organisms living on and inside of your body? Microbes are found in even the most extreme environments. Many microorganisms are considered either sidekicks that make our lives better or villains that harm us. In this class, you will be introduced to animal and plant superheroes such as koalas with incredible ability to consume poisonous eucalyptus thanks to the microbial sidekicks living in their guts. We will culture microorganisms from varying sample locations and form hypotheses on what and how much we expect to grow.

Did you know that there are trillions of tiny organisms living on and inside of your body? Microbes are found in even the most extreme environments. Many microorganisms are considered either sidekicks that make our lives better or villains that harm us. In this class, you will be introduced to animal and plant superheroes such as koalas with incredible ability to consume poisonous eucalyptus thanks to the microbial sidekicks living in their guts. We will culture microorganisms from varying sample locations and form hypotheses on what and how much we expect to grow.

It's dangerous to go alone! Being alive is an ordeal. Animals must find food, fend off enemies, and take care of their young. A little help can go a long way, and it's no surprise that many animals band together to survive the perils of the world. There is power in numbers: the deadly grace of killer whales on the hunt, the sheer impenetrability of roaming wildebeest herds, and the breathtaking efficiency of ant colonies are testament to that. Join us on a tour of the world's most exceptional team players.