PLANTS AND HUMAN WELLBEING

PLANTSCI 351

Plants are essential for human wellbeing, yet they are often manipulated in ways that contribute significantly to human and environmental detriment. Provides an opportunity to consider the scientific, social, economic, and public policy implications of plants or groups of plants and dive deeply into those subjects for a variety of crops that are essential for human societies.

AGROECOL/ILS/RELIGST 304

Plants play an important role in just about every aspect of our lives and culture, including religion. Learn about the ways plants are used and understood in religions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and indigenous and pagan traditions. Apply theories from across the humanities to interpret plants and ecological themes in religious practices, works of art, literature, architecture, and gardens. Define important societal questions, collect and analyze evidence using primary sources, present original conclusions, and contribute to ongoing discussions about the relationship of people and plants. Think critically about the similarities and differences between your own use and understanding of plants and those of larger global communities.

PLANTSCI 376

Highlights the connections between tropical plants and society. Topics include multidisciplinary reflections on the biology of tropical plants, as well as an overview of different production systems and some of the social and environmental problems associated with the utilization of tropical plants in the context of local and global markets. Provides the opportunity to demonstrate comparative skills with respect to local and international challenges posed by the topics we address in class. Illustrates connections between horticulture and conservation, food security, nutrition, and global health.

BOTANY 240

Plant parts and demonstrations of their utility to humans, origins of domesticated plants, modifications of plants by humans, ecosystem services owed to plants, and reasons to sustain plant diversity.

PLANTSCI 110

Introduces the basic principles of plant science and technology as they apply to cultivated plants. Topics include the historical and economic importance of plants for food, feed, and fiber; origin, classification, and geographic distribution; plant breeding; growth, development, and physiology; agroecosystems and practices; field and greenhouse production; integrated pest management; and marketing practices. Discuss and apply associated technologies (e.g. gene editing, remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles).