Plant Biology: Ethnobotany

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Asynchronous online course; BCOR 1400 and 1450 or BIOL 1400 and 1450 or BCOR 1425 or PBIO 1040 or PBIO 1060 or ANTH 1100 Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations

Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates elements of plant sciences, social sciences, ecology and environmental studies, human geography, and chemistry, among others. Its focus lies on the interactions between plants and humans within local, regional, and global contexts. Through combining lecture, reading, and discussion, students will work to develop an ethnobotanical perspective, incorporating both Western and non-Western epistemological systems to critically engage with the subject matter of the course. We begin the course with a module examining ethnobotany as a discipline and studying some aspects of ethnobotanical theory, before moving into a taxonomically driven look through a range of ethnobotanically important plant families from around the globe and through time. Students will be expected to complete engagement questions throughout the lectures, and to participate in discussions with their classmates. Course goals 1. Gain an understanding of ethnobotany as an interdisciplinary field in the plant sciences 2. Begin to develop an ethnobotanical perspective that incorporates both Western plant and social sciences, as well as Indigenous ways of knowing 3. Develop / improve scientific literacy skills 4. Develop / improve critical thinking skills through application in discussions, assignments, and reading 5. Develop / improve the ability to communicate scientific information to professional, peer, and lay/public audiences through a variety of formats (e.g., written, posters, videos)

This course is offered in an asynchronous format. Each week, there will be assigned lectures to watch, readings to do, and assignments to complete, but when you do these is entirely up to you and your schedule. It will be important to follow the order laid out for the course to ensure you are prepared for assignments as they arise. It will also be important to ensure you are keeping up with the weekly deadlines as some parts of your grade require interaction with other students through discussion posts.

20% for lecture questions 20% for weekly quizzes 20% for discussion posts 20% for a written reading response project 20% for a plant profile project that may take a range of forms