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COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY THE
URIARTE LAB Department of Ecology, Evolution &
Environmental Biology |
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· Statistical
modelling in ecology and evolutionary biology (EEEB G5010). This course teaches students the practice of modern statistical methods to enhance their own research through a
combination of lectures, evaluations of scientific literature, and
application of techniques to real data. By the end of the course students have (1)
acquired a broad understanding of the philosophical and statistical issues
underlying scientific inference; (2) gained quantitative confidence in the use of models; (3) acquired a
good understanding of the use and limitations of likelihood and Bayesian methods; and (4)
developed skill in the use of some of the software tools (e.g., statistical
software R, JAGS ) they will need to apply statistical
modelling to their research. · Landscape
ecology (EEEB W4160). Landscape ecology examines the development, causes and attributes of spatial patterns of landscapes and their implications for ecological processes. This course will cover the
conceptual underpinnings of landscape ecology and will introduce students to
some of the tools used to analyze the structure and dynamics of landscapes. By the end of
this course students will be familiar with key concepts in
landscape ecology and
their application to
current questions and
issues in the field.
They will come away with a good understanding
of scale, environmental heterogeneity, and
how these interact with
ecological processes at levels of organization from population, to community, to ecosystem processes.
Students will also learn how these factors can be incorporated into landscape
management and sustainability plans. ·
Doctoral
Thesis Development Seminar (EEB 4990). This course is designed
to engage students in research early in their academic careers and teach them
the necessary skills to be effective and independent researchers. The course
will focus on acquisition of the following skills:1) Synthesize scientific literature
and understand the “big picture” of science; 2) Develop research and
dissertation proposals; 3) Critique scientific ideas (written and oral
critique);4) Discuss research with peers and give both formal and informal
scientific talks. ·
Foundations of
Ecology and Evolution (EEEB 4122) (co-taught with Joel Cracraft). An overview of the major
questions in Ecology and Evolution. ·
Land Use Transitions in the Tropics (EEB G6150). This is a graduate level seminar
focused on exposing students to novel interdisciplinary research. The goal of
this course is to enhance knowledge and skills needed for carrying out
applied and interdisciplinary research on topics related to ecology and
sustainability science. In order to encourage
the cross-fertilization of ideas across conventional disciplinary boundaries,
the course is co-taught by faculty members from the natural and social
sciences. · Scaling in ecology and sustainability science (EEB G6150) (co-taught with Ruth DeFries). An overview of physical, biological, and political approaches to scaling ecological processes and the sustainability of the ecosystem services they provide, and how interdisciplinary methods could contribute to the understanding of such relationships. Students develop and complete a group project aimed at publication. · Sustainability Science: Interactions between human and environmental systems. A Distributed Seminar among Harvard, Univ. Minnesota, Columbia, and Arizona State University. This is a research seminar on the core theories of sustainability science -- an emerging field of problem-driven research dealing with the interactions between human and environmental systems. The problem that motivates the course, and the field, is the challenge of sustainability: improving the wellbeing of present and future generations in ways that conserve the planet’s life support systems over the long term. The goal of the seminar is to introduce researchers interested in sustainability science to the field’s principle themes, cutting-edge findings, active debates and unresolved research questions. To this end, participants will critically discuss a set of presentations and papers covering the field in a systematic way, drawing on and integrating contemporary research from earth systems science, resource economics, institutional analysis, ecology, geography, development studies, health sciences and engineering. |