Living in a Variable Universe. 4 credits, 6 contact hours

Catalog description

This laboratory course uses real-world case studies and dramatic experimental examples from across the natural sciences to explore the origin, structure, perception and regulation of variability in the world. Why do we so often misunderstand the nature and consequences of variability? Why do our efforts to manage environment variability often fail? What are the benefits of variability? How can we plan more effectively for an uncertain future? Students will leave the course with a better understanding of how variability affects both themselves as individuals, and society at large. They will also be exposed to a broad sampling of different disciplines within the natural sciences, including physics, statistics, neuroscience, psychology, ecology, and geography.