Insects are the most successful animals on earth. The have adapted to live in any conceivable habitat, in extreme heat and cold conditions. The can walk, swim, fly hundreds of miles, diapause for many years; they have developed unique reproductive strategies, they can fend off bacterial and viral infections, they can easily survive after loosing most limbs, most of their blood, and even handle many potent toxins.
This course will survey these physiological phenomena, study the underlying molecular mechanisms, and cover contemporary methods employed in this research field.
We will meet once per week for a 2-3 hour block, at a time which is good for everyone. For each lecture, one broad topic will be studied (e.g., flight; energy metabolism, reproduction, metamorphosis, resistance…). A review paper covering the subject will be handed out before, and I will give a comprehensive overview in a ~1 h lecture. We'll discuss the material in more detail, and later have a student Powerpoint presentation on a related, mutually agreed subject.
An important part of this course is learning how to optimally deliver such talks. We will spend some time on practical details of structuring, preparing, and delivering Powerpoint presentations, and discuss each presentation as a class for both content and style.
The class grade will be determined by a combination of class participation, the Powerpoint presentations delivered in class, and the revised presentations turned in to me at the end of the semester.