Courses previously offered by Nick Smith

Plant Physiological Ecology

This course covers the fundamentals of plant physiological processes at multiple scales, from the cellular to whole-plant level. The class considers physiological responses to a variety of abiotic and biotic conditions across space and time, including responses to expected future global changes. We examine plant strategies that influence their form, function, and distribution. The course considers both natural and agricultural contexts. Students tackle classical literature as well as current topics in plant physiology. Classes are primarily discussion based.

Information and material for the Spring 2025 course can be found on the course GitHub repository.

Special Topics - Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology

Students in this course learn the fundamentals of ecosystem ecology. This includes interactions between biological organisms and themselves as well as their environment. Concepts taught include water and energy cycling as well as carbon and nutrient flows in natural and managed systems. This includes aboveground and belowground processes. As ecosystem ecology is the largest scale of ecology, the class also cover necessary concepts of individual, population, and community ecology. Spatial extent of processes covered extends to the globe. Temporal extent extends to millenia. The class considers applied aspects of global change and human decision making. Students are evaluated on their ability to discuss and disseminate course topics.

Information and material for the Fall 2023 course can be found on the course GitHub repository.

Biology of Plants

This course, intended for students not majoring in biology, provides a broad survey of plant biology. Students will be able to recognize major plant groups and their characteristics, describe plant structure and its relationship to plant function, and associate the survival of plants with expression of genes controlling plant function. The course includes a lab section and satisfies university lab course requirements.

The lab for the course is designed as a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) for all 144 students. The CURE is designed to teach students the nature of science through carrying out and disseminating a research project examining the impact of global change on plants. CURE Lab Manual.

Spring 2022 Syllabus.

Plant Physiological Theory and Techniques

Students in this course will learn mechanistic theory and techniques commonly used in the field of plant physiology. The course will focus on data acquisition at scales from the organ to the whole-plant. Theory will be taught through reading of primary literature, which will be combined with the teaching of techniques in the lab and field.

Spring 2023 Syllabus.

Undergraduate Research in Plant Ecophysiology

As part of this research experience, undergraduates learn research techniques under the supervision of Nick Smith and members of the Smith lab. As a final project, students develop a proposal for a research project that will (ideally) take place in a following semester. Projects may involve, but are not limited to, laboratory, greenhouse, field, and/or computer simulations.