Ethnobotany

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Explores the dynamic relationships between people and plants through the interdisciplinary lens of ethnobotany. Introduces the field by examining how disciplines such as botany, anthropology, ethnopharmacology, ethnoecology and ethnomedicine contribute to understanding plant use across cultures. Engages critically with foundational concepts, including plant adaptations for defense, human strategies for utilizing those adaptations, diverse ways of knowing and the development of knowledge systems that codify plant use. Emphasizes analytical and methodological inquiry into how plant ecosystems and knowledge systems shape human-plant interactions. TOPICS AND THEMES. Studies plant structures, functions and identification using botanical methods; analyzes traditional ecological knowledge and cognitive ethnobotany through ethnographic and comparative approaches; considers ethnopharmacological practices including tinctures, infusions and salves with attention to preparation and efficacy; explores sensory and perceptual ecology using qualitative and observational techniques; examines ethnoecology and conservation strategies through field-based and participatory methods; investigates ethnomedicine, medical models and health conditions using cross-cultural and clinical perspectives; and evaluates ethical issues in research and practice through case studies and applied frameworks. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.