HUMBIO 17SC, ANTHRO 10SC Darwin, Evolution, and Galápagos


Bill Durham Departments of Anthropology and Human Biology Prerequisite: None required, but previous coursework in evolution and/or conservation is a plus.


they have also been central to the study of conservation. The fascinating adaptations of organisms to the unique ecosystems of the archipelago have left them particularly vulnerable to outside introductions. Drawing on lessons learned in Galápagos from Darwin’s time to the present, this seminar explores evolution, conservation, and their connection in the Galápagos. Using case-study material on finches, iguanas, tortoises, cacti, Scalesia plants, and more, we will explore current theory and debate about adaptation, sexual selection, speciation, adaptive radiation, and other topics in evolution. Similarly, we will explore the special challenges Galápagos poses today for conservation, owing to both its unusual biota and the increasing human impact on the archipelago. This course includes an intensive eleven-day expedition to Galápagos to observe firsthand the evolutionary phenomena and conservation issues discussed in class. A chartered ship will serve as our floating classroom, dormitory, and dining hall as we work our way around the archipelago to visit as many as ten islands. For this portion of the class, undergraduates will be joined by a group of Stanford alumni and friends in a format called a Stanford “Field Seminar.” Because our class time on campus is limited to one week before travel, students will be required to complete all course readings over the summer. Both on campus and in South America, the course emphasizes student contributions and presentations. Students will be asked to lead discussions and carry out literature research on the evolutionary and conservation biology of particular Galápagos species. The final assignment for the seminar is to complete a seven- to ten-page paper on the evolutionary biology and conservation challenges of a particular organism or adaptation and to present the main findings of that paper in a joint seminar of undergrads and alumni as we travel in Galápagos.


T


Note: Students will arrive on campus and will be housed at Stanford until we leave for Galápagos. Travel to Galápagos will be provided and paid by Sophomore College (except incidentals) and is made possible by the support of the Stanford Alumni Association Travel/Study Program and generous donors. Students will return to campus late afternoon or evening on Sunday, September 23, the day before the fall term begins.


Bill Durham


received his Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Michigan before joining the Stanford faculty in human biology and anthropology. His current research focuses on conservation and development issues in Galápagos, Costa Rica, and the Amazon. Durham has led 22 previous trips to Galápagos, including 10 Field Seminars. More


8


he tiny remote islands of Galápagos have played a large and central role in the study of evolution. Not surprisingly,


ECON 13SC Economic Policies of the Presidential Candidates


John Shoven and Greg Rosston Department of Economics and SIEPR Prerequisite: Economics 1A or equivalent.


four years. Macro-economic data such as the unemployment rate, the inflation rate, the rate of productivity growth, and the budget deficit will be reviewed. The performance of financial markets will be examined, along with issues such as job creation and the outsourcing of work overseas. The economic outlook and budget documents of the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget will be evaluated. There will be some emphasis on such spending categories as Social Security, Medicare, and defense. We will include a brief overview of U.S. tax policies. With this overview of the economy and its problems as a backdrop, we will invite the economic advisors of the two major presidential candidates to address the class. We will take a trip to Washington D.C. and meet with political and economic policy leaders. There will be a required paper and an oral presentation in which students evaluate particular programs or proposals. We will try to avoid strictly political debates and stick to economic and political economy analyses.


T John B. Shoven


is the Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics and the Wallace R. Hawley Director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. He has published over 100 articles and written or edited 20 books, and is chairman of the board of Cadence Design Systems and on the boards of American Century Funds, Financial Engines, and Exponent, Inc. More


Greg Rosston


is Deputy Director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the Public Policy program. He teaches in Economics and Public Policy and is on the advisory boards of the Stanford Federal Credit Union, the Nepal Youth Foundation, and Sustainable Conservation. Dr. Rosston received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and served as Deputy Chief Economist at the FCC. More


his course will look at the performance of the economy over the past twenty years with particular attention to the past


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20