UC Davis Eco-Courses
SUMMER 2008
- ECI 289I: Interdisciplinary Modeling: Water-Related Modeling
- Fish 565: Functional Morphology and Ecology of Marine Fishes at Friday Harbor Labs
ECI 289I : Interdisciplinary Modeling: Water-Related Modeling
Units: | 4 |
When: | Summer, 2008, July 14 – August 1, 2008, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; 4 hrs lecture and 4 hrs lab per day |
Web site: |
Instructor: | Coordinating Instructors: |
Course Goal:
The science and management of many environmental issues is inherently interdisciplinary. One of the ways to approach the diversity of needs in managing and understanding these issues is to employ mathematical modeling. Models based on available scientific knowledge and theories can be used to bridge the gap between the ability to scientifically predict with reasonable certainty, and the need to make decisions. However, despite the strengths of interdisciplinary modeling approaches, there are several impediments to successfully implementing these approaches, including (1) understanding the advantages and limitations of using models; (2) different spatial and temporal scales that specific disciplines are concerned with; (3) differences in degrees of uncertainty of data and models, and (4) lack of awareness of what modeling options are available in an interdisciplinary sense. All of these are intertwined with (5) difficulties in communication between disciplines, where different terminology and perspectives can get in the way of discussing common issues or concerns. And finally, (6) scientists and modelers need to be educated and trained about interdisciplinary approaches. The objective of this course is to engage students in interdisciplinary discourse in modeling by addressing each of these impediments.
Course Description:
Students will be introduced to models that are available in different disciplines and how such models might be applied together to address water-related issues, address issues of variability and uncertainty in implementing interdisciplinary approaches, and gain experience in working in interdisciplinary teams to apply interdisciplinary modeling approaches to increase knowledge about water-related issues. Students will use common software to do an interdisciplinary modeling project.
Course Objectives:
Successful students will accomplish the following in this course:
1. Discuss the philosophy of modeling
2. Become aware of models in different disciplines used to address water issues
3. Work in interdisciplinary teams to explore issues and approaches associated with interdisciplinary modeling
4. Complete an interdisciplinary modeling project that addresses one or more water-related issues
Prerequisite: At least one course in modeling or consent of coordinating instructors.
Required Textbook: None. Students will be required to review material posted on the course website.
Grading: Letter grade
MODIFIED ON: 4/22/2008
Fish 565 : Functional Morphology and Ecology of Marine Fishes at Friday Harbor Labs
Units: | 12 |
When: | Summer, 2008, June 9 - July 12, 2008 |
Web site: |
Instructor: | Adam Summers (http://www.biomechanics.bio.uci.edu/) and Lara Ferry-Graham (http://ecomorphology.mlml.calstate.edu/) |
The course will use the diverse marine fish community of the San Juan Islands as a tool for exploring the relationship between functional morphology and ecology. Students in the course will learn: 1) the evolutionary history and relationships of the major radiations of bony and cartilaginous fishes; 2) the tools and techniques of collecting; 3) the tools and techniques of functional morphology. For the first several weeks of the course there will be daily lectures and field trips to familiarize students with the basic tools and animals that they will need for the latter portion of the course. For the second half of the course students will pursue an independent research project. A variety of projects will be suggested but it is also possible to come up with a completely original project based on personal interest. In the past, projects have covered a wide range of topics including purely ecological, eco-morphology, comparative physiology, comparative morphology and functional morphology. The course will culminate in an oral and written presentation of the results of the research project. This course has historically enjoyed a strong place in the training of functional morphological researchers, and takes advantage of the amazing strengths of Friday Harbor as a research facility.
It is especially exciting this year that our course will be offered at the same time as the new Biomechanics course taught by Emily Carrington (U Washington), Mark Denny (Stanford University), and John Gosline (U British Columbia). The synergy between these courses will create an amazing learning environment for young biomechanists, functional morphologists, and marine ecologists.
MODIFIED ON: 1/28/2008