This course explores earth’s biodiversity and species extinction from a biological and societal perspective. We will identify the causes and patterns of past extinctions driven by geological events and compare them to modern-day extinctions driven primarily by humans. We will also discuss why species extinction and the loss of biodiversity matters for humans by exploring the values and services biodiversity provides to society.

OWU Units: 1.00. Crosslisting(s): None. Prerequisite(s): None. Corequisite(s): None. Antirequisite(s): None. Fee: None. Core Competency: Question Scientifically. Offered: TBD.