Time Schedule:
Rebecca M Price
BIS 393
Bothell Campus
Various topics designed to respond to faculty and student interests and needs.
Class description
History of Life (393b): We will examine the principles of evolution by examining the fossil record, focusing on how past events shaped today’s biodiversity. We will start with the formation of the Earth, covering bacteria, algae, land plants, marine and terrestrial invertebrates and vertebrates, and conclude with today’s environmental changes. We’ll explore particular events, such as the preservation of fossils (unique preservation of deposits such as the Burgess Shale in British Columbia compared to standard preservation), the origin of variation in evolution (e.g., hominid skulls), ecology (e.g., the development of grasslands), and biomechanics (e.g., crinoids and oysters).
Visual Art of Biology (393c): How has natural history affected art and how has art affected natural history? To answer these questions, we will explore the mutual impact of these fields, discovering how technological innovations that enhance vision—such as the microscope, the telescope, the camera and digital imaging—affect our representations of nature. We will employ a fascinating, diverse set of readings to explore how modern medical illustrations stem from Da Vinci and the traditions embedded in the anatomical theater and how National Geographic evolved from a Victorian tradition of nature drawings. We will also see how nature has inspired Hollywood film (Aliens, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Finding Nemo). Throughout the term, you will find examples of BioArt to contribute to a course database, and we will analyze the images in that database through a series of interdisciplinary assignments.
Student learning goals
History of Life (393b): 1. Summarize the history of life on Earth.
History of Life (393b): 2. Understand how intelligent design and other forms of creationism threaten chemistry, geology, geography, and astronomy in addition to biology.
History of Life (393b): 3. Appreciate that understanding the history of life fosters a deeper understanding for every-day experiences, like cooking, talking to neighbors about evolution, thinking about biodiversity.
Visual Art of Biology (393c): 1. Recognize the effect advances in technology have on the interplay between art and biology.
Visual Art of Biology (393c): 2. Evaluate the biases inherent to interpreting and producing visual, biological imagery.
Visual Art of Biology (393c): 3. Develop basic databasing skills necessary to catalog a collection of art.
General method of instruction
History of Life (393b): Combination of interactive lectures, labs, individual projects, small group work, and readings
Visual Art of Biology (393c): Combination of interactive lectures, readings, discussions, individual projects and small group work
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
History of Life (393b): labs, short essays, quizzes, participation, term paper (includes an outline and two drafts)
Visual Art of Biology (393c): class portfolio, discussions, participation and homeowork, analysis of images, interview with a bioartist, survey on bioart, essays and final project.
History of Life (393b): labs, short essays, quizzes, participation, term paper (includes an outline and two drafts)
Visual Art of Biology (393c): class portfolio, discussions, participation and homeowork, analysis of images, interview with a bioartist, survey on bioart, essays and final project.
