
Sapiens: The Changing Nature of Human Evolution (APG/BIO 282G)
-- Spring semester Grand Challenge course co-taught with Dr. Holly Dunsworth from the URI Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Humans have instigated the “Anthropocene”—a time when our activities have imparted a significant impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, which is now circling back to impact our own evolution as well. A key question is whether humanity has brought Earth to the brink of a sixth mass extinction and if so, how did we get here? Our approach to this course poses the question: what can we learn about the ecological and evolutionary impact of humans on Earth by studying our own evolutionary origins and history? Our journey traces human origins and history, while moving toward an understanding of Homo sapiens as a significant cause of evolutionary change, ending with an in-depth description of our widespread influence on Earth's systems and what efforts are being made to slow and even reverse what we’ve done. A major goal is impart a deep understanding of the process of evolution.
-- Spring semester Grand Challenge course co-taught with Dr. Holly Dunsworth from the URI Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Humans have instigated the “Anthropocene”—a time when our activities have imparted a significant impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, which is now circling back to impact our own evolution as well. A key question is whether humanity has brought Earth to the brink of a sixth mass extinction and if so, how did we get here? Our approach to this course poses the question: what can we learn about the ecological and evolutionary impact of humans on Earth by studying our own evolutionary origins and history? Our journey traces human origins and history, while moving toward an understanding of Homo sapiens as a significant cause of evolutionary change, ending with an in-depth description of our widespread influence on Earth's systems and what efforts are being made to slow and even reverse what we’ve done. A major goal is impart a deep understanding of the process of evolution.

Biology & Society (BIO 396)
-- Fall and Spring semesters. This upper-level seminar course focuses on understanding the impact of biological discoveries on societal questions and the social influences that affect biological discovery. We discuss how evolution shapes our lives, including human evolution, health and disease, conservation, global climate change, and much, much more. We integrate across multiple levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems in order to understand how evolutionary mechanisms influence our daily lives and the things we care about. Students read and discuss primary scientific literature and popular science content (primarily popular science books) related to evolution and society. To demonstrate information literacy, students conduct an independent research project to produce an integrative project (examples from previous semesters include videos, board games, short stories, songs, cartoons) and an accompanying short paper, giving students the opportunity to apply creatively their knowledge, research skills, and critical thinking abilities to a broad, integrative question in evolution and society.
-- Fall and Spring semesters. This upper-level seminar course focuses on understanding the impact of biological discoveries on societal questions and the social influences that affect biological discovery. We discuss how evolution shapes our lives, including human evolution, health and disease, conservation, global climate change, and much, much more. We integrate across multiple levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems in order to understand how evolutionary mechanisms influence our daily lives and the things we care about. Students read and discuss primary scientific literature and popular science content (primarily popular science books) related to evolution and society. To demonstrate information literacy, students conduct an independent research project to produce an integrative project (examples from previous semesters include videos, board games, short stories, songs, cartoons) and an accompanying short paper, giving students the opportunity to apply creatively their knowledge, research skills, and critical thinking abilities to a broad, integrative question in evolution and society.

Ecology and Adaptive Radiation of Anoles (BIO 593)
-- Fall 2012 seminar featuring the book "Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree" by Jonathan Losos and selected papers on the biology of Anolis lizards. Dr. Losos will visit URI to give a seminar on Monday, Oct. 1st.
-- Fall 2012 seminar featuring the book "Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree" by Jonathan Losos and selected papers on the biology of Anolis lizards. Dr. Losos will visit URI to give a seminar on Monday, Oct. 1st.

Vertebrate Biology (BIO 366)
-- Fall semester course co-taught with Cheryl Wilga, Department of Biological Sciences. Taught from 2012-2015.
-- Fall semester course co-taught with Cheryl Wilga, Department of Biological Sciences. Taught from 2012-2015.

Population Genetics Seminar (OCG 594)
-- Discussion-style seminar offered Spring semester focusing on current population genetic techniques and empirical studies co-taught with Tatiana Rynearson of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography.
-- Discussion-style seminar offered Spring semester focusing on current population genetic techniques and empirical studies co-taught with Tatiana Rynearson of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography.

Global Change Biology (HPR 109/135)
-- Spring semester seminar for first and second-year students in the URI Honors Program focusing on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of recent, human-mediated global change, such as climate change, invasive species, pollution, and urbanization. Taught from 2012-2018.
-- Spring semester seminar for first and second-year students in the URI Honors Program focusing on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of recent, human-mediated global change, such as climate change, invasive species, pollution, and urbanization. Taught from 2012-2018.