Check out this EVST Core Science Course: Ecology and the Future of Life on Earth, EVST 273

January 17, 2019

Are you tired of hearing doom and gloom about the environment? Here is a science course that demonstrates considerable hope and opportunity to create a bright and sustainable future for all life on Earth.

Instructor: Oswald Schmitz

Schedule, Location: MW 1:00-2:15 PM in WTS A60

Course Details:  This course can be applied towards the Sciences Yale College distributional requirement and is a Natural Science Core Course in both the EVST BS and BA degree programs. Students learn how to combine ethical reasoning with scientific principles to ensure that species and ecosystems will persist and thrive. Read the syllabus here.

About the Instructor: Professor Schmitz’s research examines the dynamics and structure of terrestrial food webs. His specific focus is on plant-herbivore interactions and how they are shaped by carnivores and soil-nutrient levels. He studies how natural systems are resistant and resilient to natural and human-induced disturbances. His approach involves developing mathematical theories of species interactions in food webs and testing these theories through field experiments. Check out Professor Schmitz’s recent article in Science Magazine, his essay in the PLoS Biology series “Why Research Matters”, his book written to communicate ecological concepts to a broader public, and his many journal articles.