ECOL 592 Interdisciplinary Seminar
These unique seminars provide cutting edge ecology topics which are changed and updated each semester.
Please note: Be sure to register for the correct number of credits listed next to the course descriptions.
Fall 2024
ECOL 592-401
CRN: 76980
Credits: 1
Grading: Pass/Fail
Enrollment Limit: 25
Dates: 08/19/2024-11/22/2024
This course is online, asynchronous
Peer Reviewing for Early Career Researchers
Instructors: Josie Otto and Dr. Meena Balgopal
Course description:
Although graduate students have many opportunities to critically read scientific
literature, not all students have participated in peer-reviewing manuscripts. In
this course, students will learn how to find preprints and write a peer review
report of a preprint using a structure adapted for first-time reviewers. Students
will have the option to publish their peer review reports. Preprints are free,
online, non-peer-reviewed manuscripts shared by authors to a preprint server
before (or while) submitting to a peer-reviewed journal. Instructors will assess
student performance on their participation in and completion of peer review
reports.
ECOL 592-402
CRN: 76979
Credits: 1
Grading: Traditional
Enrollment Limit: 25
Dates: 08/19/2024-11/22/2024
This course is online, asynchronous
IDEAS in the Field
Instructors: Josie Otto and Dr. DeeDee Wright
Course description:
Being in “the field”, or a location outside of the lab or classroom, is often an integral
component of graduate ecology research, yet it poses many risks and challenges to those involved. Emerging ecologists and those historically excluded from field research face many barriers to safe participation and engagement. This seminar aims to increase the visibility, intentionality, and scope of an inclusive and safe field culture. Students will engage in units on Misconduct and Inclusivity (Harassment and Discrimination, BIPOC and LQBTQ+ Experience), Accessibility and Health (Disability, Chronic Illness, Mental Health, Wellness and Basic Needs), and Safety and Codes of Conduct (Communication, Risk Assessment and Mitigation, and Logistics and Procedures). By the end of the course, students will produce a comprehensive field procedures and safety plan relevant to their own research.
Note: IDEAS stands for Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Safety
ECOL 592-001
CRN: 65074
Credits: 1
Grading: Pass/Fail
Enrollment Limit: 10
Dates: 08/22/2024-12/04/2024
This course meets in-person on Wednesdays from 11-12
The Species Status Assessment Framework
Instructors: Dr. William Kendall and Dr. Robin Russell
Course description:
Dr. William Kendall (CSU FWCB faculty and USGS Coop Unit) and Dr. Robin Russell, USFWS Research Biologist is co-leading a 1-credit hour seminar this Fall 2024 to give students experience with USFWS Species Status Assessment (SSA) used in federal listing and recovery decisions. Students interested in working with at-risk species would have a first hand opportunity to write an SSA. Working with USFWS practitioners, students will work as a team, participating in the process of providing the foundational science to inform Endangered Species Act (ESA) decisions. Students will learn about how extinction risk is evaluated for species, and how to write and communicate verbally with decision makers.
The objectives of the course are listed below
1) Describe the purpose of an SSA, the critical elements of an SSA, and its role in ESA decision-making.
2) Practical experience in applying the SSA framework (or the 3R’s of resiliency, representation, and redundancey) to a species
3) An understanding of extinction risk and the indices and metrics both qualitative and quantitative used to evaluate this risk
4) Practical experience developing future projections for a species, describing important uncertainties in a species status, and communicating analyses results to decision makers
ECOL 592-002
CRN: 65075
Credits: 1
Grading: Traditional
Enrollment Limit: 15
Dates: 08/26/2024-12/02/2024
This course meets in-person on Mondays from 1-2
EntomoEchoes: Diverse perspectives & foundational theories of insect ecology
Instructors: Ryleigh Gelles and Dr. Seth Davis
Course description:
The foundations of insect ecology have historically been dominated by a certain demographic, but in recent decades, the field has embraced a diversity of voices and perspectives. This inclusion of diverse voices provides a richer understanding of the historical lineages and broadens the scope of research legacies that inform today’s field. In this course, students will explore the evolution of insect ecology by examining seminal works from historical entomologists to contemporary authors. This class offers a unique opportunity to understand the historical context and research legacies that have shaped modern insect ecology. Through paper discussions and engaging activities, students will delve into key concepts and gain a comprehensive understanding of the field’s development and current landscape.