Seminar in Ecology

 (BSC 420.03 – Spring 2005)

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INSTRUCTOR:    Steven Juliano     E-MAIL:      sajulia@mail.bio.ilstu.edu

OFFICE:               335 FSA               PHONE:      82642        

OFFICE HRS.:     TBA                     MEETING TIME:  Mon. 2:00 – 3:00 PM, FSA 132

WEB PAGE:         http://www.bio.ilstu.edu/juliano/default.htm ____________________________________________________________________________________

                       

Seminar will consist of readings from the primary literature, each led by one student.  Each discussion leader will be responsible for giving a short (10 minute) introduction to the discussion, and providing a short (1 p.) summary of the topic and direction of discussion.  Leaders should lead the discussion not lecture.  Other participants should come prepared to discuss the papers we have read.  

 

Leaders will provide the group with an electronic copy of the paper(s) for discussion one week in advance of our meeting.  You must have my approval for the paper you have chosen, so see me early on if you have a paper in mind.  If you cannot come up with an electronic copy see me.  If all else fails, get me a hard copy and I will have it photocopied and distributed.  Leaders will e-mail one electronic copy of the 1 p. summary to me and to all participants (I will provide all of you with email addresses) on the Friday before our meeting.  

 

Your grade will be determined by both your success in leading the discussion (80%), including preparation, clarity, evidence of understanding, and  quality of questions posed, and by your participation in discussion when you do not lead (20%).  Note that this arrangement means you cannot manage an A in this seminar if you do not participate in discussions.  I will provide feedback to discussion leaders following their presentations.

 

I have not chosen a topic for this version of Seminar in Ecology.  I am going to leave choices of topics open to students with the limitations that the topic should be about ecology, broadly defined to include evolutionary, physiological, behavioral, population, community, and ecosystem levels of organization.  Applied ecology is also included.  My main criterion for approving your choice of papers is whether your choice seems to have sufficient conceptual content so that the papers and topic will be broadly interesting.  I have in mind a number of topic areas and papers that seem to me to have interest for a broad ecological audience.  See me if you want some suggestions. 

 

Seminar Schedule

 

Week of

Seminar topic

Discussion leader

Jan. 17

Organizational meeting

 

Jan. 24

 

 

Jan. 31

 

Megan Timpe

Feb. 7

 

Banu Kesavaraju

Feb. 14

 

Heidi Harms

Feb. 21

 

Don Yee

Feb. 28

 

Ryan Paitz

Mar. 7

 

Kelly Slattery

Mar. 14

Spring break – no seminar

 

Mar. 21

 

Wanchad Sumanochitrapon

Mar. 28

 

Anna Forsman

April 4

 

Brian Mautz

April 11

 

Carie Weddle

April 18

 

 

April 25

 

 

May 3

No meeting