This is a six week summer course, lasting June 25 - August 6. Darwin s theory of evolution by natural selection is the set of concepts that organizes our understanding of life on earth, and it has provided us with surprising answers to the problem of sex change in fish. This course concentrates on the application of Darwinian evolution to the explanation of animal behavior. The field is vast and fascinating. The subject matter that we approach is fascinating.
Animals do wondrous things.
But primary goal of this course is not just to teach you about the wonders of animal societies. In addition, I want you to see the process of science. This means understanding and applying theories, then evaluating and developing those theories on the basis of empirical evidence. Partly because our knowledge of animal societies is incomplete, the course is designed to do more than just teach you facts. It should also help show you how to go about extending our understanding to scientific problems as yet unanswered.