Art and science have always been fundamentally linked. Before the invention of photography, illustration was the main documentation tool in science; even now, artistic representations are used to communicate important scientific discoveries. In this course students learn the basics of bird anatomy in tandem with sketching techniques to foster an appreciation of how science and art can reinforce each other in enriching one's life and study. Led by the staff biological illustrator at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, students begin with the fundamentals of observational drawing to improve accuracy before moving onto watercolors. Interwoven into art lessons are scientific lectures produced by Cornell ornithologists, blending art with current science to cover a range of interconnected topics.

Full details for BIOEE 1130 - The Art and Science of Birds

Evolution is the central unifying concept in biology. This course examines evolution as a science and places it in an historical context. Classes focus on descent with modification, natural selection, evolutionary genetics, the history of the earth, the information content of the fossil record, and diversification processes. The science of evolutionary biology is presented in the context of a broader history of ideas in science. The course also explores the importance of evolutionary thinking in the 21st century, including antibiotic and pesticide resistance, personalized genomics, human evolution, and evolutionary ecology. Courses of Study: Intended for students with no background in college biology.

Full details for BIOEE 1180 - Evolution

This course provides an introduction to ecology, covering interactions between organisms and the environment at scales of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Ecological principles are used to explore the theory and applications of major issues facing humanity in the 21st century, including population dynamics, disease ecology, biodiversity and invasive species, global change, and other topics of environmental sustainability.

Full details for BIOEE 1610 - Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment

Considers explanations for pattern of diversity and the apparent good fit of organisms to the environment. Topics include the diversity of life, the genetics and developmental basis of evolutionary change, processes at the population level, evolution by natural selection, modes of speciation, long-term trends in evolution, origin of humans.

Full details for BIOEE 1780 - An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity

This on-campus and international field course combination provides participating students with a broad introduction to the research process in field ecology, with literature and hands-on examples drawn from the fauna and flora of coastal Patagonia (Argentina), an area that provides us with unprecedented access to both marine and terrestrial wildlife as well as exposure to conservation challenges and success stories. The course begins in the latter part of the Fall semester (BIOEE 2525) when it meets twice weekly for seven weeks, largely to discuss relevant papers from the scientific literature with an emphasis on best practices in designing field studies to address questions in Neotropical ecology, behavioral ecology, conservation, and evolutionary biology. During the 2+ week field component in January (BIOEE 2526), students travel among field sites in Patagonia and put this knowledge to work in an experiential context by designing and implementing a series of research projects, including numerous short 'blitz' projects and several longer, more intensive independent projects; many of these field studies involve close-hand observations of marine mammals, penguins, or other seabirds. This course (BIOEE 2527) is focused on building skills in data analysis and scientific writing, based on the data collected in the field by each student.

Full details for BIOEE 2527 - Neotropical Wildlife Biology

This course in organismal biology explores the anatomy and function of vertebrates from an evolutionary perspective. Lectures cover the origin, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and evolution of vertebrate groups, with a focus on organ systems, life history strategies, locomotion, behavior, ecology, and conservation. A concurrent lab provides hands-on experience with vertebrate anatomy and morphology. Overall, students will examine how form relates to function across diverse vertebrate lineages, investigate patterns of convergent evolution, and analyze factors driving biodiversity differences among groups. This course prepares students for advanced vertebrate biology courses (Ichthyology, Herpetology, Ornithology, Mammalogy) and provides excellent preparation for pre-vet and pre-med students through its comparative anatomical and physiological approach to understanding the organization of the vertebrate body.

Full details for BIOEE 2740 - The Vertebrates: Form, Function, and Evolution

Ecology and Environmental Science have entered an era of increasing data volume and complexity, demanding rigorous quantitative reasoning and effective data communication. This course advances data literacy of undergraduate and graduate students by covering theoretical foundations and practical coding skills to analyze, interpret, and present ecological and environmental data. Through integrated lectures and laboratory sessions, students will gain knowledge and hands-on experience for data curation, hypothesis testing, regression modeling, and visualization. The course also introduces new machine learning and AI tools for ecological data analytics. Students will develop proficiency in Python and R using real-world data sets spanning organismal to landscape scales. Designed for students in biology and environmental science, this course builds a rigorous, modern quantitative toolkit for ecological research and environmental problem-solving.

Full details for BIOEE 3550 - Ecological and Environmental Data Analytics

Why are chilies so spicy? This course examines the chemical basis of interactions between species and is intended for students with a basic knowledge of chemistry and biology. Focuses on the ecology and chemistry of plants, animals, and microbes. Stresses chemical signals used in diverse ecosystems, using Darwinian natural selection as a framework. Topics include: plant defenses, microbial warfare, communication in marine organisms, and human pheromones.

Full details for BIOEE 3690 - Chemical Ecology

Detailed survey of how physiological processes help organisms meet the challenges of their environment. Lectures explore physiological adaptation, thermal biology, respiration and oxygen transport, resource acquisition and allocation, water use and limitation, energetics and nutrition, hormones, stress physiology, and developmental physiology. Readings draw from the primary literature and textbooks.

Full details for BIOEE 4660 - Physiological Ecology of Animals

Detailed survey of the physiological approaches used in understanding the relationships between organisms and their environment. Laboratories apply physiological techniques to specific ecological problems and cover aspects of experimental design and computer-aided data analysis.

Full details for BIOEE 4661 - Physiological Ecology, Laboratory

Ecological Genetics focuses on the application of population genetic concepts in ecological contexts, with emphases on measuring adaptation in natural populations, detecting the effects of population demography, and determining the genetic basis of quantitative traits. Illustrative examples will be drawn from the primary research literature to demonstrate experimental techniques and methods of data analysis on single-gene, multi-locus and genome-wide scales.

Full details for BIOEE 4800 - Ecological Genetics

Designed to give qualified undergraduate students teaching experience through actual involvement in planning and assisting in biology courses. This experience may include supervised participation in a discussion group, assisting in a biology laboratory, assisting in field biology, or tutoring.

Full details for BIOEE 4980 - Teaching Experience

Ecology and Environmental Science have entered an era of increasing data volume and complexity, demanding rigorous quantitative reasoning and effective data communication. This course advances data literacy of undergraduate and graduate students by covering theoretical foundations and practical coding skills to analyze, interpret, and present ecological and environmental data. Through integrated lectures and laboratory sessions, students will gain knowledge and hands-on experience for data curation, hypothesis testing, regression modeling, and visualization. The course also introduces new machine learning and AI tools for ecological data analytics. Students will develop proficiency in Python and R using real-world data sets spanning organismal to landscape scales. Designed for students in biology and environmental science, this course builds a rigorous, modern quantitative toolkit for ecological research and environmental problem-solving.

Full details for BIOEE 6550 - Ecological and Environmental Data Analytics

This course is a discussion of current topics in limnology. Students will have the opportunity to present and receive feedback on their research in limnology. Topics include (but are not limited to) biogeochemistry, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, microbial ecology, and population ecology in inland freshwaters.

Full details for BIOEE 7500 - Limnology Seminar

Lectures and intensive study of special topics in the field of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Content varies each semester.

Full details for BIOEE 7600 - Special Topics in Evolution and Ecology

Group intensive study of current research in plant-insect interactions. Topics vary from semester to semester but include chemical defense, coevolution, insect community structure, population regulation, biocontrol, tritrophic interactions, and mutualism.

Full details for BIOEE 7640 - Plant-Insect Interactions Seminar

Thesis research conducted by an M.S. student in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology with advice and consultation of a major professor who is a member of the field.

Full details for BIOEE 8990 - M.S. Thesis Research

Dissertation research conducted by a Ph.D. student in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology with advice and consultation of a major professor who is a member of the field.

Full details for BIOEE 9990 - Ph.D. Dissertation Research