Stan Braude

This freshman seminar uses the topic of dog behavior and genetics to teach fundamental scientific tools and to engage students in contributing to the building of an online public resource that summarizes the scientific literature on breeds. Our first task is learning to read and dissect primary scientific literature. We parse out the difference between scientific questions, hypotheses, and predictions through a guided case-study exercise. We then apply the experience to outlining primary research articles, identifying the key components of the author's arguments and summarizing the results and implications. The second half of the semester is spent searching the scientific literature, sorting information into the new dog breed resource, and presenting results to peers around the seminar table.

Missouri's Natural Heritage is for freshmen who want to get outdoors and learn about their home for the next four years. The first semester of the sequence will focus on Missouri geology, climate, archaeology, and native megafauna. This will provide a foundation on which to examine the ecology, restoration, and management of our diverse habitats (prairie, forest, glade, and stream) and the biology of our diverse plant and animal wildlife (arthropods, mollusks, fish, salamanders, lizards, birds, and mammals) in the second semester. We will also introduce basic concepts in biodiversity and resource management with case studies from here in Missouri. In addition to weekly lecture and discussion, students in this class will visit sites across the state during a number of Friday afternoon field trips and weekend camping trips. Camping gear, transportation and meals for all field trips are covered by the lab fee.

This is the first of a two-semester sequence that examines all major organ systems in the human/mammalian body. The lab is an integral part of the course. The emphasis is on understanding normal function and processes at the gross, cellular, and molecular levels as well as some discussion of pathology and disease. The first semester covers basic principles of cellular physiology, histology, digestion, bone, muscle, and nervous systems. Optional weekly discussion and review sections are also offered during which case studies are discussed as a means of applying and reviewing lecture material.

This graduate-level course will examine physiology in a cohesive evolutionary context. For each system we will first review the general anatomy and physiology, turning then to the molecular basis of function and dysfunction. Each class provides an overview of the basic physiology of one of the major organ systems including: neural, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive, urogenital and immune, followed by a discussion of recent discoveries presented in primary scientific literature and current reviews.

Washington University's Danforth Campus is home to more than 4000 trees and is now a registered arboretum. This urban forest ecosystem has been carefully curated and managed to provide habitat diversity, shade, rainwater mitigation, and aesthetic beauty. In this course you will study the biology of woody plants in the classroom and in our arboretum. Specifically, you will learn woody plant systematics, physiology, and ecology as well as applied, and hands-on, techniques. You will learn to collect forestry data, and to identify trees by leaf, bud, bark, fruit and crown. You will learn to plant, propagate, and care for trees and other woody plants. You will also contribute to the ongoing research in our arboretum and to the education of your peers and campus visitors by adding new trees to the arboretum collection and by monitoring the campus trees as you learn to collect data on growth and phenology. Students who successfully complete this course will be eligible to join the Danforth Arboretum "Loraxes" for the remainder of their time at Washington University. Loraxes will be arboretum ambassadors and will be called upon from time to time to lead tours of the arboretum for prospective students, science outreach, or members of the campus community.

This course, open to both graduate-level and undergraduate students, will cover the physiology underlying wilderness and remote first aid. We will review evidence-based, best practices and then explore the underlying mechanisms and physiology. In addition to learning the theory of emergency medical care, we will gain experience practicing life saving techniques including: CPR, wound cleaning and care, splinting of fractures and dislocations, spinal stabilization, and treatment of heat stroke and hypothermia. A Lab Fee of $90 will cover American Red Cross certification in CPR and Wilderness and Remote First Aid, as well as all materials necessary for hands-on practice and realistic emergency scenarios.

How did Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Michael Jackson die? How have David Letterman and Dick Cheney survived? In this course we work towards understanding the biology behind human health, disease, and disaster. We examine cases from the news, literature and history and work like detectives to understand what happened. We also work at distinguishing honest science and medicine from junk science and scams. This course is designed for students who do not plan to major in science. Therefore, no prior science background is expected.