BSCI145: Insect Apocalypse

An article in the New York Times, in 2018, declared an "Insect Apocalypse" that for the first time brought the general, unexplained declines in insects to the public and suggested a catastrophe awaits our planet. Scientists have documented the loss of insect species at a rate exceeding the extinction rates associated with the major geological events in the Earth's history. The insect apocalypse, called the "insect decline" among researchers, potentially could lead to the demise of all terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Based on science and research, students will be provided background, and discover on their own, the diversity of the form and functions of insects, as well as how they evolved and persisted for 400 million years. The course, designed for students of any major, celebrates the incredible variation of insect life and what they do to support life on our planet. The course will highlight the use of scientific research to understand and respond to the global crisis.