201 Impact of Insects and Plant Diseases on Human Societies (3) Insects and plant diseases have had a significant influence on human history, culture, and lifestyles. The science of entomology and plant pathology help humankind understand the impact of insects and plant pathogens on these dimensions of human existence. The development of strategies to capitalize on the beneficial aspects of these organisms will also be explored. 3 hours. Fall, E.
Goals: Provide a large cross-section of the student population at The University of Tennessee with stimulating and interesting information to understand how insects and plant pathogens affect their daily lives. Provide background for students to make educated decisions regarding the interactions between these organisms and humans.
Course Objectives:
1. Introduce students to the sciences and practices of entomology and plant pathology.
2. Help students develop an appreciation for the impact that insects and plant diseases have had on human history and cultural development.
3. Help students develop an understanding and appreciation for the important role insects and plant diseases have on modern lifestyles and economies throughout the world.
Course Format: The course will consist primarily of electronic presentation in lecture format, demonstrations, and discussions led by faculty members and guests who are specialists representing a variety of subject areas within the fields of entomology and plant pathology. Students will have the opportunity to critique the various topics presented.
Class Time: 9:40am-10:55am, TR.
Attendance policy: Attendance is mandatory.
Exams: Each of the three exams will be weighted equally to determine the final grade.
Course letter grades will be assigned using the following scale:
A 90-100
B+ 87-89
B 80-86
C+ 77-79
C 70-76
D 60-69
F <60
Textbooks: No textbook is required. Supplementary materials will be made available in the classroom or on line at the course web site.
EPP 201: Impacts of Insects and Plant Diseases on Human Societies
I. Biodiversity and Importance of Insects and Diseases
Aug. 23 Introduction, class syllabus, objectives, learning process, grading system, oral presentations.
Dr. Paris Lambdin
Aug. 28 The Wild, Wonderful World of Insects
Dr. Jerome Grant
Aug. 30 How About Those Plant Diseases?
Dr. Mark Windham
Sept. 4 The World of the Fly
Dr. Kevin Moulton
Sept. 6 Little Suckers Wilt Economies
Dr. Ernest Bernard
Sept. 11 Flower Power: How Plants Defend Themselves
Dr. Kimberly Gwinn
Sept. 13 Bugs on Your Bod - Real or Imagined
Dr. Reid Gerhardt
Sept. 18 Pollination: If Flowers Are Restautants to Bees, What Are Bees to Flowers?
Dr. John Skinner
Sept. 20 Whodunit? How to Track Plant Thieves
Dr. Kurt Lamour
Sept. 25 EXAM 1
II. Pests and Control
Sept. 27 Exotic Insects: The Good, the Bad, and the Buggy
Dr. Jerome Grant
Oct. 2 The FBI Ten Most Wanted List
Dr. Bonnie Ownley
Oct. 4 Insects and Microbes: the Invisible Insect Killers
Dr. Juan Jurat-Fuentes
Oct. 9 Poisons in Our Food!
Dr. Melvin Newman
Oct. 11-12 Fall Break
Oct. 16 The Tyrant of Africa
Dr. Carl Jones
Oct. 18 The World of the Spider
Dr. Susan Reichert
Oct. 23 Importance of Bees to the Forest
Dr. Adriean Mayor
Oct. 25 How Fire Ants "Burned" the South
Dr. Karen Vail
Oct. 30 The Body Farm
Dr. Rebecca Wilson
Nov. 1 EXAM 2
III. Historical Significance of Insects and Diseases on Society
Nov. 6
How the Giants Have Fallen (pdf)
Dr. Mark Windham
Nov. 8 Ornamental Insects and the Homeowner (pdf)
Dr. Frank Hale
Nov. 13 Kiss Me, I'm Irish! (pdf)
Dr. Alan Windham
Nov. 15 Frying the Bad Guys (html)
Dr. Craig Canaday
Nov. 20 Master and Slave - Agrobacterium and transgenic plants
Dr. Bonnie Ownley
Nov. 22-23 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Nov. 27 Witches to Migraines: Ergots in History
Dr. Kimberly Gwinn
Nov. 29 Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Outside Again... (pdf)
Dr. Reid Gerhardt
Dec. 4 How Insects Have Changed the Course of History
Dr. Paris Lambdin
Wrap-up, Evaluations
Dec. 5-9 STUDY DAYS
Dec. ? FINAL EXAM 3 10:15 am - 12:15 pm