PBIO 2070 - Biology of the City: Biological and Physical Processes in Constructed Ecosystems

• Students will be able to explain the basic terminology, concepts, and methods of modern climate, soil, and ecological science as they apply in human-constructed environments.
• Students will be able to outline how scientific models are formed, tested, and validated (or not) using specific examples from urban research.
• Students will be able to describe or predict urban climate effects and plant/animal population dynamics using recently published scientific models and theories.
• Students will be able to apply scientific methods appropriate to urban settings including hypothesis generation, systematic data collection, and analysis to critically assess their hypotheses.
• Students will be able to describe how scientific data are reproducible while also having intrinsic variation based on frequent comparisons of cities and neighborhoods.
• Students will be able to communicate how recent findings in urban ecology contribute to quality of life in modern cities.
• Students will be able to evaluate evidence-based scientific arguments in a logical fashion and distinguish between scientific and non-scientific interpretations of urban phenomena.
• Students will be able to critically state, describe, and consider an issue or problem in the context of contemporary urban issues.
• Students will be able to use information from the recent peer-reviewed literature to develop a comprehensive analysis of urban physical and biological processes.
• Students will be able to systematically analyze assumptions and contexts when interpreting dynamics of urban plant and animal communities.
• Students will be able to state a specific hypothesis that is thoughtful, recognizes complexities, and acknowledges limitations based on the use of the scientific method in field-oriented research studies.
• Students will be able to state conclusions and outcomes logically and in a priority order. Students will recognize that the practical management value of data and examples is essential to effecive application.
• Students will be able to connect scientific concepts and observations to their personal experience of cities and constructed environments.
• Students will be able to critically evaluate models of urban ecosystem function and community dynamics in light of real data from peer-reviewed scientific literature.