Professor: Hughes Course format: Seminar Number of respondents: 7 Total Enrollment: 7 Class Composition: Froshs: 0 Sophs: 1 Jrs: 2 Srs: 4 Concs: ? Non-Concs: ? Don't Know: ?

Instructor Average: 1.43 Course Average: 1.47

“Topics in Microbial Ecology” introduces topics of microbial ecology and diversity through a semester-long project. Additionally, this course examines the literature and technical processes associated with microbial ecology. Stated prerequisites include Bio 47 and an intermediate ecology course, although students felt that laboratory skills would be useful prior to entry.

Students generally projected an extremely positive reaction toward Professor Hughes’ instructional performance. According to the majority of respondents, the professor was friendly, approachable, and always willing to help. She motivated her students in developing their projects and was always available outside class. Such class members went on to note that she always took students’ needs into account, although the course did require students to be very self-motivated.

Reviewers felt that all their readings were useful, although many would have liked to have more readings on basic background material. The workload for the course consisted of one big project with a group proposal, proposal critiques, a group presentation, and a final group paper, with drafts. Survey participants indicate that although this workload was reasonable, you could fall quickly behind without individual motivation.

Prospective students can expect to spend on average ten or more hours per week for this course. According to most reviewers, this was much more of a time commitment than originally anticipated. Take this course if you are interested in ecology and would like to be exposed to a different side of biology and gain great lab experience. You will learn so much by completing a self-motivated research project; just make sure you have enough time to devote to this class!

View BI/0194 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.