ANTH–N 390
DARWINIAN MEDICINE
Darwinian, or Evolutionary, Medicine is the study of health and disease from an evolutionary perspective. In this course we will examine not only how pathogens function biologically but also the evolutionary forces that led to the development of these functions. We will also examine our own evolved—and evolving— mechanisms for dealing with pathogens both in respect to biological and cultural adaptations. There are three goals in this course. The first is to acquaint students with the usefulness of the scientific method in suggesting answers to complex questions about healthy and disease. The second is moving from simplistic, either-or explanations to a consideration of the relative weight of proximate and ultimate explanations. The third is building and developing quantitative analytical skills in respect to scientific literature.
NEANDERTHALS (Our Evolving View of Neanderthals)
From pathological human specimens to brutish louts to sitcom stars, the public and scientific face of Neanderthals has evolved dramatically since their discovery in 1856. In this course we will look at the long, and occasionally bizarre, history of Neanderthal research and representation. Juxtaposing primary anthropological and biological resources with fictional and public depictions, we will show how science and popular culture have interacted to create a dynamic and ever-evolving image of our most closely-related ancient hominid cousin.
AST-N 390
HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE
The modern understanding of the birth and evolution of our Universe can be dated to 1998 when astronomers discovered, completely contrary to expectation, that the Universe is growing at an ever more rapid rate. This was the last major observational ingredient that laid the groundwork for the “Standard Cosmological Model”. After a brief review of older attempts to understand our cosmos, we will discuss in quantitative detail the conditions of the universe at different important epochs about which we have some understanding (inflation, fundamental force decoupling, matter/antimatter imbalance, baryogenesis, radiation/matter/ domination, recombination and the cosmic microwave background, dark matter and the evolution of large scale structure, dark energy domination and the termination of structure formation) as well as the geometry and equations of motion of the Universe. We will also discuss current speculation about epochs which are less well understood (the time before inflation and the distant future.)
Origins of the Elements
Shortly after the Big Bang, all the hydrogen, most of the helium, and some fraction of the lithium that now exists in the universe was formed as the universe expanded and cooled. All of the other elements that exist in nature, including those elements that make up our own bodies, were formed in nuclear reactions inside stars. As the astronomer Carl Sagan put it, “We are star stuff.” The earliest recognition of the role of stellar nuclear reactions in element production dates to the second quarter of the 20th century, and by the late 1950’s a plausible explanation of the processes contributing to this “nucleosynthesis” had been published. Even sixty years later, though, many open questions remain, and their resolution typically requires input from observational astronomy, laboratory nuclear physics, and theoretical astrophysics. This course will introduce students to the current state of knowledge concerning nucleosynthesis and to the tools and techniques currently being employed by astronomers, nuclear physicists, and astrophysicists to answer important remaining questions.
BIOL-N 390
BIOTECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
This course introduces both science and non-science majors to the biological work that occurs behind the scenes at hospitals and clinics, including the role of biochemistry tests in disease diagnosis, treatments, drug design, and in monitoring the efficacy of treatments. New approaches to instrumentation and design of products will be introduced. An additional purpose for biology majors is to demonstrate a range of career options beyond what students usually imagine. The course discusses careers in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry and the clinical laboratory, and presents an introduction to the potential entrepreneurial aspects of biotechnology. Lecture notes will be provided via OnCourse, and invited guest lecturers will provide their personal experiences in different aspects of biotechnology.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
Some of the most perennial challenges humans face are environmental issues – how should we use resources, how do our actions affect other species, and how do our actions affect the long-term availability of resources. Not surprisingly, environmental issues cross many disciplines including all fields of science, humanities, arts, business, and politics. In this course we will study environmental issues from primarily a biological perspective with an emphasis on ecology, but we will use readings from a variety of sources including book chapters, science journals, government reports, and newspaper articles to consider connections between biology and other disciplines.
HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (Previously offered as Environmental Biology)
Some of the most perennial challenges humans face are environmental issues – how should we use resources, how do our actions affect other species, and how do our actions affect the long-term availability of resources. Not surprisingly, environmental issues cross many disciplines including all fields of science, humanities, arts, business, and politics. In this course we will study environmental issues from primarily a biological perspective with an emphasis on ecology, but we will use readings from a variety of sources including book chapters, science journals, government reports, and newspaper articles to consider connections between biology and other disciplines.
CHEM-N 390
CLINICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
An introduction for both non-science and science majors interested in technology involved in clinical testing. Emphasis will be placed on diagnostic testing, method development, and their applications in different clinical settings including the hospital laboratory, and both biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Course content includes lectures, hands-on laboratory experience, guest speakers, and field trips to working clinical laboratories.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY OF AIR AND ENERGY
This course focuses on the radical-based chemistry of the atmosphere and related topics such as fuels and climate change. Commonly heard topics such as global warming, greenhouse gases, smog, ozone hole, alternative energy, biofuels, carbon sequestration, and the hydrogen economy are all discussed. It may be followed or preceded by CHEM-N 390 The Natural World: Environmental Chemistry of Water and Waste. Although new chemical concepts are introduced and old concepts are expanded upon, this course primarily applies previously-learned chemistry (from CHEM-C 105 and C106) to environmental issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY OF WATER AND WASTE
This course focuses on solubility, redox, and acid-base reactions occurring in natural and polluted water, but also considers the treatment of solid waste in addition to wasterwater. The environmental impact of heavy metals (such as mercury and lead) and toxic organic compounds (such as insecticides and herbicides) are also discussed. Although new chemical concepts are introduced, and old concepts are expanded upon, this course primarily applies previously-learned chemistry (from CHEM-C 105 and C106) to environmental issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
The environment cannot sustain society given the current population and our lifestyles. What natural and anthropogenic roles has chemistry played in the past and what is its role in the future? We discuss many of today’s issues such as sustainability, green chemistry, acid rain, smog, global warming, biofuels, renewable energy, carbon sequestration, ozone layer, and the hydrogen economy. Also covered are pesticides, environmental estrogens, water pollution, water purification, and solid waste. Although new chemical concepts are introduced, and old concepts are expanded upon, this course primarily applies previously-learned chemistry (from CHEM C105 and CHEM C106) to environmental issues.
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Nanotechnology is the application of the science of small – small enough that the atom must be considered and the properties of bulk matter no longer apply. The course begins by developing an appreciation of the small scale and the implications this has on the variability of the properties of matter once thought to be constant for a given substance regardless of size. After learning about naturally occurring nanoparticles, we consider the anthropogenic production of materials and the probing of their properties. Buckyballs and fullerenes will be considered and particular emphasis will be placed on mechanical, electronic, and biomedical applications such atomic-level microscopy, single-electron transistors, and nanoshells.
CLS-N 390
STARTING THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
Zombies are here! Can you survive the zombie apocalypse? More importantly, do you know how to start a zombie apocalypse? Zombies are not so different from humans, except for a few key characteristics. This course explores scientific and technical issues in modern society through the lens of a potential zombie apocalypse. In this course, we are going to compare the similarities and differences of biology (and immunology) between humans and zombies. Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic agents of infectious diseases will be described and evaluated for their potential to create zombies. However, creating a zombie is not enough, it needs to spread to be effective. Applying scientific methods and interdisciplinary perspectives, you will explore disease development, transmission, progression, and prevention. You will also investigate the broader implications and ethical dimensions of scientific research and technological advancement. By the end of this course, you will be able to apply all of your knowledge and create the perfect zombie apocalypse.
DHYG-N 390
HEALTH PROMOTION & DISEASE PREVENTION IN COSTA RICA
This course will provide students the learning opportunity to travel abroad to San Jose and Shiroles, Costa Rica and provide preventive health care to a population in great need. Students will live with Costa Rican families immersing themselves in the culture of the country and learning to speak Spanish for application in medical and dental settings. Students will be given the opportunity to apply what they have learned about the dynamics of the Costa Rican healthcare system by assisting a dentist in a community clinic sponsored by Caja Costariccense (Costa Rican Social Security) which serves a largely indigenous population.
GEOL-N 390
NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
In this course we will examine the myriad ways by which natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis, threaten lives, industry and community. We will approach our subject by studying case studies to build upon prior familiarity with the geological, meteorological and oceanographic sciences. We will also discuss broader considerations such as risk assessment and how to appropriately respond to these threats given society’s limited resources.
OUR WORLD’S OCEANS
Our world’s oceans have elicited fear, balanced against human curiosity, for all of recorded history; remarkably, this continues to today because they are so vast and much remains unknown. From our earliest attempts to fish from their shores, to modern efforts to harness tidal energy, we have recognized the extraordinary value contained within the oceans, yet only in relatively recent history has it become clear that, despite their vastness, our activities can, and are, having a deleterious effect on them. In this course we will take an interdisciplinary approach to explore not just the science of oceanography and how the oceans are changing in response to human activities, but the historical progression of how we have explored and exploited Earth’s oceans.
MATH-N 390
MATHEMATICS AS A HUMAN ACTIVITY
Explores an important scientific or technological issue in modern society. Applies scientific methods and interdisciplinary perspectives in an examination of the subject. Investigates the broader implications and ethical dimensions of scientific research and technological advancement. This course explores the ways in which central mathematical ideas developed cognitively, historically and across cultures. Course work includes solving problems situated in historical contexts, drawn from subjects including numeration and arithmetic, algebra and number theory, practical and axiomatic geometry, set theory and calculus.