Field Biology and Natural History course, Nova Scotia, 2 spaces remaining

[Melanie Colón]

I invite qualified undergraduates to fill 2 remaining spaces in my summer course, Field Biology and Natural History, involving field study in Nova Scotia (BIO 3955). This is a 4-credit upper-division lecture/laboratory course for science undergraduates, with a hybrid format: it will focus on field study in southwestern Nova Scotia 6 July - 21 July, supported by online work 1 June - 2 July and 23 July - 31 July. Prerequisites: one or more introductory courses in biology or environmental science, or permission of instructor (Dr. Robert Curry, http://www98.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.curry/). Travel to and from Nova Scotia will be by Villanova university van; participants can join us on 6 July anywhere between Villanova, PA, and Portland, ME. Field study during the trip will focus on exploration of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, and on field identification and natural history of animals and plants. The course will include introduction to reading and writing about primary literature, as well as collection and statistical analysis of field data. The trip will involve some camping, cottage accommodation, and several nights at Acadia University's Bon Portage Island field station. Activities will include hiking, swimming, bird-banding, canoeing/kayaking, and a pelagic boat excursion (whales, seabirds). Students will pay Villanova summer sessions tuition (see http://www.villanova.edu/villanova/professionalstudies/summer.html) and $900 for all-inclusive trip expenses.