Enroll in Rice University’s Top-Rated Biology Courses, 100% Online

Take a virtual field trip through the 3 fields of modern biology

Understand nature like a biologist does! Follow Dr. Scott Solomon, author, speaker, and Biosciences professor at Rice University, on this unique “virtual field trip” learning experience to gain a broad overview and appreciation of biology, including ecology, evolution, and biodiversity.

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DESCRIPTION

3-Course Introduction to Biology Specialization

In this three-part course series, you will learn about Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity. These engaging and interactive courses are designed to give you a broad overview of three fascinating and important fields of biology.

Together, we’ll go beyond what we can do in a typical classroom. We'll explore wild places, examine fossils, experience fun demonstrations, and interact with endangered species. You' ll learn to see nature as a biologist does by experiencing it up close and personally.

Who should attend:

Anyone interested in biology and its relevant sub-fields: ecology, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity on earth
College and high school students who want to experience a university-level or Rice University science course
High school and middle school teachers who need a high-quality supplementary resource for teaching biology to students
Global science and nature enthusiasts who want to take a fun, interactive biology course online

You will be able to:

Define ecology, evolutionary biology, biological diversity, and other key biology concepts and terms
Understand important concepts from biology’s various fields, including community ecology and ecological niches, species interactions and connections, macroevolution, prokaryotic life, the human microbiome, and more
Apply biology concepts and theories to practical, everyday considerations like ecological conservation, human health, antibiotic use, and mindfulness

LECTURE SAMPLES

MEET YOUR RICE PROFESSOR

Scott Solomon, Ph.D.

Dr. Scott Solomon is a biologist, professor, and science communicator. He teaches ecology, evolutionary biology, and scientific communication as an Associate Teaching Professor at Rice University in Houston. Dr. Solomon is also a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. He has a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Texas at Austin where his research examined the evolutionary basis of biological diversity in the Amazon Basin.

Dr. Solomon often speaks and writes about science at schools, museums, churches, science cafés, TEDx events, and other venues and has appeared on radio broadcasts on NPR and the BBC World Service and television series such as NASA’s Unexplained Files and Life 2.0. His writing and photography have appeared in publications such as NBC News, Slate, Aeon, Nautilus, and Wired, and his first book, Future Humans: Inside the Science of Our Continuing Evolution was published by Yale University Press and was included on the 2017 Best Book List by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

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