Creating Experiments in Plant Biology

Students learn core concepts of plant biology via hands-on research experiences and interactive class activities.  Through lectures, readings, discussions, and online and in-class activities, students are introduced to the biology of plants from the perspective of plant structure and function, ecology, evolution, and diversity.  In the first few lab periods, students become familiar with scientific literature, basic concepts in plant biology, and experimental techniques. For the remainder of the lab, students work in teams to identify a novel research question and plan and conduct a multi-week experiment to address this research question. At the end of the semester, student research is showcased in a poster symposium.