Plant biology or botany is the study of how a plant functions and how a plant interacts with, and persists in its environment. A subfield of botany is agriculture and is the study of how plants can be bred to optimize yield, in other words how a plant species’ physiology can be altered to improve the plant as a crop. During the next 3 1/2 weeks, you will have the opportunity to: 1) learn basic concepts and principles of plant biology and physiology 2) learn basic concepts and principles of plant breeding and agriculture 3) learn about the history of agriculture as it pertains to plants 4) view agricultural issues from an evolutionary and conservation perspective

The part of Colorado that includes, and surrounds, the San Luis Valley has an amazingly rich set of ‘histories’, including those that aregeological, environmental, anthropological, cultural, economic and political in nature. In other words it is a region that can be exploredfrom a wide variety of academic perspectives that together fit under the General Education umbrella. In this course students will be introduced to some of different ways that academic disciplines create knowledge and thus how they 'understand' this area. The courses will also help students develop a ‘Sense of the Southwest’ that extends beyond their more frequent Front Range experiences.

Nutrition is unique in that we have been consuming nutrients for our entire lives- we all come to this course with varying beliefs, experiences, and backgrounds in the field. Students will be guided through the current nutritional literature in the process of becoming a critical consumer of nutrition information. Emphasizing an exploration of the current literature investigating the links between nutrition and the spectrum of physical and mental health, students will build the skills necessary to interpret the research and reflect on the application of the findings to their lives.

In today’s world, reaching into our closets and pulling out literally whatever shade of clothing we desire is an afterthought. But even 200 years ago, colored garments were a luxury and, in some cases, reserved for royalty. In Dyeing to Learn Chemistry, you will learn about the rich history of natural dyeing traditions around the globe, how these practices were affected by colonialism and industrialization, and how artisans of today work to keep the traditional methods alive. While exploring the historical, economic and social implications of dyes you will build a strong foundation in the chemistry of how dyes work. But what would a chemistry class be without a laboratory component? In this course, you will explore different dyeing techniques in lab (both traditional and modern), use your chemistry knowledge to explain the physical phenomena they observed, and ultimately design and present a research project on a natural dye experiment of your own interest.

This course will teach some basic chemistry concepts that will be applied directly to the forensic science found useful in the investigation of crime. A mix of historical and fictional case studies, collecting evidence from crime scenes, and methodologies employed in the forensic sciences will be used as a framework to learn about the application of these basic chemical principles. Library research coupled with written and oral presentations will be used to develop forensic reporting skills. Scientific articles and texts in conjunction with popular literature will be used to elucidate the scientific principles that support analysis and interpretation of forensic evidence. We will briefly explore the intersection of science and criminal justice and how scientific principles can be twisted/misused/misrepresented resulting in inequities in the justice system. If you are a fan of CSI and/or crime mysteries, and are wondering if they have gotten the science right, then this is the course for you!

Recent technological advances have empowered scientists with molecular tools that facilitate the modification of the blueprints of life¬—the genomes within living organisms. Students in this course will learn about the science behind genome editing by performing genome-editing experiments in the context of addressing a biological research question. Students will learn about how scientists use (or plan to use) genome-editing technology for applications such as biotechnology, gene-edited foods, pest control, and gene therapy. With such vast applications, genome editing has raised important questions about its ethical use. Students will be challenged to consider the possible benefits, alternative approaches, and unintended negative consequences of genome editing. Meets requirements for Learning Across the Liberal Arts: Scientific Analysis; not intended for Molecular Biology majors.