Offered as SDS 109 and CSC 109. The world is growing increasingly reliant on collecting and analyzing information to help people make decisions. Because of this, the ability to communicate effectively about data is an important component of future job prospects across nearly all disciplines. In this course, students learn the foundations of information visualization and sharpen their skills in communicating using data. This course explores concepts in decision-making, human perception, color theory and storytelling as they apply to data-driven communication.

Offered as SDS 109 and CSC 109. The world is growing increasingly reliant on collecting and analyzing information to help people make decisions. Because of this, the ability to communicate effectively about data is an important component of future job prospects across nearly all disciplines. In this course, students learn the foundations of information visualization and sharpen their skills in communicating using data. This course explores concepts in decision-making, human perception, color theory and storytelling as they apply to data-driven communication.

This course uses the artifacts of the Van Buren Antiquities Collection as a starting point for investigating the daily life of the Greek and Roman worlds. In particular, students select and research an object or objects for which to develop an "object biography," through which the people who produced, used, and re-used these objects might be accessed. Additional attention is given to the place of objects in archaeological practice and narratives. Enrollment limited to 10.

This course is designed to be taken in parallel with an advanced group project-based course in any discipline. Students observe and act on group and project processes to develop and refine their skills as collaborators. Participants meet weekly as a cohort for support and coaching from the instructor and each other, and complete brief reflective journal entries. The final written reflection helps students articulate their experience as a collaborative leader on resumes, in job interviews, or in fellowship and graduate school applications. S/U only. Enrollment limited to 15.

Chemistry is the language through which organisms communicate within the environment, which can be exploited for new therapeutics, industrial chemicals and molecules for bioremediation. Students explore the soils and plants of the Smith College Botanic Garden to find bacterial iron-chelating molecules or siderophores, which can be used to clean up metal pollution. Students learn how to do microbial isolation and cultivation from environmental samples, genomic sequencing, chemical extraction, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, bioinformatic analyses and enzyme assays.

Chemistry is the language through which organisms communicate within the environment, which can be exploited for new therapeutics, industrial chemicals and molecules for bioremediation. Students explore the soils and plants of the Smith College Botanic Garden to find bacterial iron-chelating molecules or siderophores, which can be used to clean up metal pollution. Students learn how to do microbial isolation and cultivation from environmental samples, genomic sequencing, chemical extraction, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, bioinformatic analyses and enzyme assays.

An introduction to some common environmental chemical processes in air, soil and water, coupled with a study of the crucial role of accurate chemical measurement of these processes. Lecture and laboratory featuring modern chemical instrumentation for spectroscopy (atomic and molecular) high performance chromatographic separations (both gas and liquid), electrochemistry as well as microwave- and ultrasound-assisted sample preparation, and a short project linked to local faculty research interests. Oral presentations and formal laboratory reports required.