NEW CLASS AT RMBL: The Biology of Climate Change. Coordinated by Dr. Graham Pyke, with contributions from John Harte and Lee Panetta
Course Description: This course will address climate change and how it affects biodiversity. It will start with discussion of the importance of the issue and the resources that are available for considering it. Subsequent topics will include how the Earth's climate works, how it is changing and why, effects of climatic variables on plants and animals, effects of changes in climate on plants, animals & ecosystems, and what is possible and likely to occur in the future. It will also include discussion of climatic feedback whereby changes in ecosystems can influence changes in climate. There will also be discussion of the politics and sociology of the issue and where to from here. Local examples will be included as much as possible. This course will involve lectures, field exercises, computer-based exercises, and discussions, both formal and informal. Students can expect to spend half of the class-time in lectures/ discussions and half in field/ computer exercises. In addition, students will be expected to carry out an independent project, based on field work, analysis of existing data, or review of available literature. Grades will be based on oral and written presentations of class exercises and individual projects, and a final exam. Prerequisites: College-level introductory physics, calculus, statistics and biology will be useful; students lacking these background courses should be prepared to work harder catching up. Computer literacy is essential. For information on other classes, see www.rmbl.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REU PROGRAM. Please tell your bright undergraduates about the RMBL REU program. One goal of the program is to increase minority representation in science, so we are especially interested in recruiting minorities (defined by NSF as Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Native Pacific Islanders). The deadline for submitting REU applications to RMBL is FEBRUARY 15. Younger students who might not be ready for the REU program should consider applying for the coursework program. We have great classes, including The Biology of Climate Change, Field Ecology, Independent Study/Senior Thesis Option, Animal Behavior, Field Ornithology, Plant-Animal Interactions, and Field Botany. Quite a bit of financial aid is available for coursework students, including full scholarships. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Jennie Reithel jreithel at <http://gmail.com/>gmail.<http://gmail.com/>com Science Director RMBL www.rmbl.org
