Ethnobiology: Human Societies and the Natural World

Catalog description

This course aims to provide an informed perspective on the multifaceted and changing relationships between human societies and the natural world. We will explore scientific methods used to retrieve traditional indigenous knowledge about species and local ecosystems. We will also discuss how this type of knowledge can be used to mitigate global challenges, such as biodiversity loss, resource insecurity, and health and environmental crises, created by changing ecosystems and disrupting human-nature relationships in modern times. The course further examines ethical and policy issues related to ethnobiological studies, as well as conservation and fair use of local resources. This course takes a global perspective but also includes some local case studies. Prerequisite(s): Completion of one of the following FSRC Pillar courses: BIOL 101 , BIOL 114 , CHEM 111 , or ENSC 162 Corequisite(s): None *Fulfills Civitae Core PSRC SI