The Biology of Myths and Monsters

Catalog description

Myths and monsters are fun to talk about, but how do you separate fact from fiction? In this course we will discuss if zombies are alive, whether monsters like Godzilla, King Kong and Mothra are possible, and the ecological reasons why ‘cryptic species’ like bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster are unlikely to exist. We will evaluate the possibility of genetic monsters depicted in the media and interpret the fossil origins of mythical monsters. Topics will be explored through case studies, which will require students to evaluate evidence and construct arguments based on the evidence with the goal of building scientific literacy to help separate science fact from science fiction.