Bio/EnvS/EnSci 201 — Introduction to Environmental Issues.
Fall
Discussion of current and emerging environmental issues such as human population growth, energy use, loss of biodiversity, water resources, and climate change. Some readings are from Issues in Ecology and Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Bio/EnvS/EnSci 202 — Exploring Environmental Issues & Sustainability Learning Community.
Fall & Spring
EEB 511 — Conceptual Foundations of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Fall, even years
Introduction to key figures and ideas that have shaped the development of ecology and evolutionary biology. Covers major developments in ecology and evolutionary biology at five levels of biological organization: Genome, Organism, Population, Community, and Ecosystem. Impacts of these developments on current approaches to investigation and argument formulation. Effects of technological advances on the direction of scientific investigations. Introduction to analytical skills important for critical thinking in ecology and evolutionary biology and the impact of accepted lines of scientific reasoning on the objectives and conduct of research, such as explanation and prediction, design of studies as experimentation, and structured or unstructured observation.
Required Reading: Darwin C (1859) Origin of Species. The essential and ultimate foundational reading. 1st edition is recommended. You can download a pdf facsimile of it--for free--at: http://darwin-online.org.uk/
EEOB 590/EEB 698 — The Niche in Ecology and Evolution
Spring 2012: Niche Construction
“When we look at the plants and bushes clothing an entangled bank, we are tempted to attribute their proportional numbers and kinds to what we call chance. But how false a view is this!” (Darwin 1859). The course will cover historical development of niche concepts and alternative modern approaches to understanding species diversity. Topics will include review and development of classic ecological niche ideas, mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance, characterization of niche geometry and dimension, parallel ideas of the niche in evolution, and current synthetic approaches such as niche construction that integrate ecology, evolution and ecosystem ecology.
EEB 698 — Bridging the Gap Between Ecology & Evolution
Spring 2012
Environmental change has been occurring at differing spatial and temporal scales since the emergence of life, and this has had a profound effect on both evolutionary and ecological processes. Despite this fundamental relationship between ecology and evolution, the intersection between them has been relatively ignored by most biologists.
BIOL 492. Preparing for Graduate School in the Biological Sciences.
For students considering pursuing a graduate degree in the biological sciences. Professional development topics including the defining of academic and career areas of interest, finding and evaluating appropriate programs of graduate study, the graduate school application process, and developing a curriculum vita. Exploration of learning opportunities at field stations, research internships, and independent research activities.
Fall 2013
Biological & Pre-Medical Illustration (Faculty/Advisory Board): http://www.bpmi.iastate.edu/
HHMI Faculty Learning Community (Facilitator): http://pws2.ait.iastate.edu/wiki/display/HHMI/Research+projects
Together Energizing Student Science: teaching the Nature of Science through project-based laboratory classes
ISU Carnivorous Plant Club (Faculty Advisor): http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/isucpc/
