Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Schedule - Summer Semester 2024
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
BIOS 323 701 (CRN: 31666)
AFRICAN SAVANNA ECOLOGY
Long Title: CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN EVOLUTION: AFRICAN SAVANNA ECOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY
Department: Biosciences
Instructors:
Meeting: (10-JUN-2024 - 26-JUL-2024)
Part of Term: Summer Block E1 (7 Wk)
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Laboratory
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 2
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Must not belong to one of the following Cohort(s):
Fall 2024 UG New First Time
Fall 2024 New UG Transfer
Section Max Enrollment: 0 (permission required) Instructor Permission Required
Section Enrolled: 12
Total Cross-list Max Enrollment: 0
Total Cross-list Enrolled: 13
Enrollment data as of: 19-SEP-2024 9:49PM
Final Exam: No Final Exam
Description: This short, intensive summer field course offers students the unique opportunity for first-hand examination of the ecology of the east African savanna biome both today and throughout the past 15 million years. The major focus of the course is to understand how changes in climate impacted the flora and fauna of the region in ways that influenced the evolution of hominins, the group that includes modern humans, as well as the effects of recent and ongoing climate change on both wildlife and people. Students will learn methodologies and gain practical experience in the fields of ecology, paleontology, and paleoanthropology. Activities will include observing wildlife in natural ecosystems including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park and participating in paleontological excavations at Olduvai Gorge— all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in northern Tanzania. By examining both the dynamics of the modern African savanna ecosystem and the paleoecology of the region, this course provides both a way of understanding our origins as well as a glimpse into our possible future in a rapidly changing world. Cross-list: ANTH 323. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for BIOS 323 if student has credit for BIOS 523.