Iowa Lakeside Laboratory (IALL)

Credits: 1-4.

Essentials of earth science, including astronomy, meteorology, geology, and paleontology; includes laboratory and fieldwork. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-2. Repeatable, maximum of 2 credits.

A specific aspect of the upper Midwest's natural history, or techniques for studying natural history; amphibians and reptiles, birds and birding, nature photography, mushrooms and other fungi, Iowa's trees and forests, fish biology, prairies, common algae, common insects, aquatic plants, life in rivers, life in lakes, mosses and liverworts, natural history of Iowa Great Lakes region, field archaeology, scuba diving, astronomy, nature sketching; five-day, nontechnical introductions. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-3. Repeatable.

Development and implementation of laboratory exercises suitable for inclusion in elementary, middle, high school, and community college biology, geology, and environmental courses; exercises built around common organisms and ecosystems in Iowa; animal biology, plant biology, fungi and lichens, aquatic ecology, prairie ecology, wetland ecology, limnology, animal behavior, insect ecology, biology of invertebrates, noninvasive use of living organisms, Project WET; field trips. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2.

Identification and classification of the common fungi; techniques for identification, preservation, and culture practiced with members of the various fungi groups. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 4.

An introduction to the principles of ecology at the population, community and ecosystem level. Field studies of local lakes, wetlands and prairies are used to examine factors controlling distributions, interactions, and roles of plants and animals in native ecosystems. Requirements: two semesters of introductory biology. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 3-4.

Examination of the value of young children's direct experiences in nature through inquiry-based learning; 'The Project Approach' builds on children's natural curiosity and enables them to interact, question, connect, problem solve, communicate, and reflect; students follow steps for implementing a nature-based project within their own classroom setting as they insure the needs of diverse learners are met for both social and academic learning; designed for early childhood teachers. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4.

Relationships between soil formation, geomorphology, environment; soil description, classification, geography, mapping, interpretation for land use. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2.

Examination of ecological and evolutionary theories of animal behavior through field studies of animal coloniality, courtship, territoriality, predator defense, habitat selection, foraging, mating systems, and parental care. Requirements: two biology courses. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4.

Field-based introduction to glacial environments and processes including the origin of sediments, landforms, and landscapes produced in glacial and associated environments; aeolian (wind) processes, river and lacustrine systems, and mechanisms and chronologies of climate change. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4.

The biology, ecology, and behavior of birds with emphasis on field studies of local avifauna. Group projects stress techniques of population analysis and methodology for population studies. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

Scientific introduction at intermediate level to ecology and evolution of important groups of organisms: algae to vertebrates, different ecological phenomena (e.g., fire and climate change), varying landforms, different ecosystems (e.g., prairies and aquatic systems); emphasis on sustainability with introduction to concepts, issues, and practices; ability to communicate environmental information through a variety of means. Requirements: one general biology course. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

Scientific introduction at intermediate level to ecology and evolution of important groups of organisms: algae to vertebrates, different ecological phenomena (e.g., fire and climate change), varying landforms, different ecosystems (e.g., prairies and aquatic systems); emphasis on sustainability with introduction to concepts, issues, and practices; ability to communicate environmental information through a variety of means. Requirements: one general biology course. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

Scientific introduction at intermediate level to ecology and evolution of important groups of organisms: algae to vertebrates, different ecological phenomena (e.g., fire and climate change), varying landforms, different ecosystems (e.g., prairies and aquatic systems); emphasis on sustainability with introduction to concepts, issues, and practices; ability to communicate environmental information through a variety of means. Requirements: one general biology course. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

Scientific introduction at intermediate level to ecology and evolution of important groups of organisms: algae to vertebrates, different ecological phenomena (e.g., fire and climate change), varying landforms, different ecosystems (e.g., prairies and aquatic systems); emphasis on sustainability with introduction to concepts, issues, and practices; ability to communicate environmental information through a variety of means. Requirements: one general biology course. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

Scientific introduction at intermediate level to ecology and evolution of important groups of organisms: algae to vertebrates, different ecological phenomena (e.g., fire and climate change), varying landforms, different ecosystems (e.g., prairies and aquatic systems); emphasis on sustainability with introduction to concepts, issues, and practices; ability to communicate environmental information through a variety of means. Requirements: one general biology course. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2.

Learn the ways scientists can better communicate discoveries and ideas. Learn the importance of identifying your audience and how you can adapt your writing based upon your understanding of those varying audiences. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 3.

Exploration of what it means to build kin with a place, while in a place-specifically, Lake Okoboji and the grounds of the Lakeside Laboratory. Consideration of the human impact on our planet and the inherent demand issued by climate change to abandon anthropocentrism and fundamentally alter human relationships with our environments, places, and the species therein. After discussing the cultural and human dimensions of climate change, we will consider multispecies kinship systems and how to build meaningful relationships with place. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2.

History, purpose, functionality and basic uses of geographical information systems (GIS) as a tool for demonstrating information in relation to locations on the earth and moments in time. While map data may often serve as the basis for using or understanding geographical information, more complex data and systems may be analyzed using GIS tools to grow understanding of geographical phenomena. For the sake of consistency, ArcGIS tools will be used to familiarize students with the basic application and function of GIS technology in relation to data. (Typically Offered: Spring)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

Scientific introduction at intermediate level to ecology and evolution of important groups of organisms: algae to vertebrates, different ecological phenomena (e.g., fire and climate change), varying landforms, different ecosystems (e.g., prairies and aquatic systems); emphasis on sustainability with introduction to concepts, issues, and practices; ability to communicate environmental information through a variety of means. Requirements: one general biology course. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 3. Repeatable.

Theory and practice of environmental policies, including the study of U.S. federal environmental policies with direct and indirect bearings on water issues; focus on policy history, implementation, and effectiveness; how policies interact with each other, how local stakeholders perceive their pros and cons, and linkages between local implementation efforts and regional and large-scale impacts. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4.

Principles of classification and evolution of vascular plants; taxonomic tools and collection techniques; use of keys. Field and laboratory studies emphasizing identification of local flowering plants and recognition of major plant families. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4.

Analysis of aquatic ecosystems; emphasis on basic ecological principles; ecological theories tested in the field; identification of common plants and animals. Requirements: ecology, chemistry, and physics courses. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2.

Ecological principles for restoration of native ecosystems; establishment (site preparation, selection of seed mixes, planting techniques) and management (fire, mowing, weed control) of native vegetation; evaluation of restorations; emphasis on prairie restoration and wetland vegetation. Requirements: ecology courses. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 4.

Basic patterns and underlying physical and biotic causes of both regional and local distributions of plants and animals of North American prairies; field and laboratory analyses and projects. Requirements: familiarity with basic principles of biology and ecology. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2.

Recognition of Iowa prairie plants and understanding the systems in which they exist; emphasis on identification of tallgrass prairie flora by sight recognition, family, genus, species, and common names. Requirements: basic familiarity with biology and ecology. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2.

Hands-on learning experiences demonstrating dynamic, human-influenced (anthropogenic) systems which have impacted prairie ecosystems for the past 10,000 years or more; emphasis on identification of tallgrass prairie flora by sight recognition, family, genus, species, and common names. Requirements: general familiarity with biology and ecology. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 3-4.

Nature of cultural and environmental evidence in archaeology and how they are used to model past human behavior and land use; emphasis on Iowa prehistory; basic reconnaissance surveying and excavation techniques. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-2.

Beginning to intermediate technical and compositional aspects of color photography of natural areas and their plants and animals. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4.

Field and laboratory study of freshwater diatoms; techniques in collection, preparation, and identification of diatom samples; study of environmental factors affecting growth, distribution, taxonomic characters; project design and execution including construction of reference and voucher collections and data organization and analysis. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4. Contact Hours: Lecture 4.

Ecology, morphological structure, phylogeny, and taxonomy of freshwater algae based on field material collected; emphasis on genus-level identifications, biodiversity, ecology; habitat visits to lakes, fens, streams, rivers; algal ecology. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

Research opportunities for undergraduate students in the biological sciences. Requirements: junior or senior standing. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-3.

How data transforms to information and ultimately knowledge through scientific investigations; examinations and applications include steps formulating the scientific method using 21st-century data, conditions, and related challenges; deliverables include a thoroughly documented scientific experiment beginning with research questions and hypotheses, recommended methods, and concluding with anticipated results. Offered irregularly. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 2.

Examination of ecological and evolutionary theories of animal behavior through field studies of animal coloniality, courtship, territoriality, predator defense, habitat selection, foraging, mating systems, and parental care. Requirements: two biology courses. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 2-4.

(Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 3.

Exploration of what it means to build kin with a place, while in a place—specifically, Lake Okoboji and the grounds of the Lakeside Laboratory. Consideration of the human impact on our planet and the inherent demand issued by climate change to abandon anthropocentrism and fundamentally alter human relationships with our environments, places, and the species therein. After discussing the cultural and human dimensions of climate change, we will consider multispecies kinship systems and how to build meaningful relationships with place. (Typically Offered: Summer)

Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.

(Typically Offered: Summer)