Primary current classes:

BIO 102: Introduction to Organismal Biology (undergraduate)

This class introduces the major concepts in biology including origin of life, evolutionary processes from populations to species, organismal diversity and the tree of life, plant and animal physiology, organismal behavior in their environments, and principles of ecology. This is a team-taught course and I typically teach the evolution and ecology lectures.

BIO/ESS 148F: Ecology in the Field and Lab (undergraduate)

This is a new class designed as a semi-structured course-based undergraduate research experience to allow students to learn how to apply and extend ecological concepts to the field and lab. Following the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework developed by the Ecological Society of America, this course focuses on ‘Ecology Practices’, including natural history observations, fieldwork, quantitative reasoning, designing investigations, working collaboratively, and communication. Students will first be introduced to common tools of ecology and the four models of ecological inquiry, then in small teams will design, implement, analyze, and present their own research project. Through these activities, students will extend their understanding of core ecological concepts, human-environment interactions, and cross-cutting themes in ecology.

ES/QSB 246: Community Ecology (graduate)

Will cover major themes and current topics in community ecology, including patterns in the diversity, abundance, and composition of species in communities and the processes underlying these patterns such as environmental filtering, species interactions, evolutionary history, and neutral processes. Knowledge obtained in BIO 148 is strongly suggested.

BIO/ESS 129 / ES 229: Paleoecology (undergraduate and graduate)

Introduction to the relationships of fossil organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings, focusing on terrestrial paleoecology of the past 2.5 million years. This class will introduce past environments, discuss common proxies for studying paleoecology, and examine ecological principles as applied to the past.

Check out a short video highlighting the ‘Alt-Comm’ final products from the Fall 2024 class!

 

Previously taught classes:

ES/QSB 248: Advanced Topics in Ecology and Evolution

BIO 1: Introduction to Biology

BIO/ESS 148: Fundamentals of Ecology

ESS 50: Ecosystems of California