LSM4263 – FIELD STUDIES IN BIODIVERSITY

LSM4263 will introduce students to field biology; the basic techniques involved, sampling design and basic data gathering and data management. Through field practicals, students will experience and encounter tropical environs and habitats, namely coastal, mangrove, primary and secondary forest. A seven-day field course is incorporated and will be conducted in Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. Students will design and execute their own field research project under the supervision of experienced  teaching assistants. This module will involve overseas exchange students as well as NUS Life Science students.

NST2002 – EVOLUTION

“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” This bold statement by the Russian population geneticist T. Dobzhansky emphasises the importance of evolution as the only unifying concept in biology. Yet, the theory of evolution is more controversial and opposed by more forces in society than any other theory in science. The module will revisit many of these objections and reveal that they are based on reasoning that is incompatible with the principles of science. We will investigate why it is “Neo-Darwinism” and not “Intelligent Design” that is currently the best supported paradigm for explaining adaptation. We will then challenge the power of the neo-Darwinian paradigm by asking how seemingly incompatible phenomena like altruism and excessive male ornamentation can possibly be explained by natural selection. We will also study several key events in evolution such as the origin of sex and its numerous consequences, and the origin of the human species. We will conclude by discussing the importance of the theory of evolution in understanding cultural evolution (“memes”) and human health and senescence (“Darwinian medicine”).

NST2008 INVERTEBRATE INNOVATIONS

Invertebrates are the animals lacking backbones that comprise >90% of the animal kingdom. Despite this, they remain superficially known to most people. This module gives much-needed attention to this megadiverse group, focusing on the varied biological innovations in aspects of their anatomy, physiology, and behaviour, which enable them to survive in particular habitats. We examine how such innovations in invertebrates have inspired man-made designs, materials, and technologies across disciplines, which have led to human innovations that benefit society; and how the study of invertebrates more broadly contributes to understanding of the natural world.

NST2007 BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL HISTORY IN SINGAPORE

NST2007: Biodiversity and Natural History in Singapore is a course offered in NUS College that investigates nature with close, inquiry-driven observations. Here, students keenly explore the self in relation to the natural world through an awareness of one’s sensory experience and itsassociated perceptions and concepts. With a strong fieldwork component and focus on experiential learning, the goal of this course is to develop students into capable and passionate naturalists with a sense of wonder and curiosity for the natural world, even after they graduate from the course and university. Location-wise, Singapore offers a unique situation for studying natural history: it is situated within a megadiverse biodiversity-hotspot, and though it has drastically reduced natural areas, it remains surprisingly species-rich. Combined with her colonial legacy, infrastructural capabilities and cultural biases, Singapore offers a rich but often neglected natural heritage for students to examine and explore.