Biology is the study of living systems and how they interact with the nonliving world and with one another. It is a discipline that bridges the physical and social sciences. Students who major in biology at Bates College become familiar with all levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems, and gain practical experience in both laboratory and field studies.
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT Faculty and Staff
Beth Whalon (AI)
The Biology Department is currently comprised of nine faculty, three visiting faculty, one lecturer, and ten academic and technical support staff members. The faculty teach a wide range of courses and support active undergraduate research opportunities including Honors thesis, thesis, independent study, and Research and Seminar. The support staff includes two full time lab instructors, half-time lab instructors in the Biological Chemistry and Neurobiology programs, a biology technician who supervises the stockroom, and a technician who oversees laboratory safety, research animal care, and the greenhouse facilities.
Curriculum
The Biology curriculum covers all levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems. Majors actively learn biology in innovative classroom, laboratory, and field settings, and special emphasis is placed on development of sound critical thinking and research skills. The core courses (Bio 101, 242, and 270) use the Principal Investigator (PI) System in the laboratory - a collaborative learning pedagogy in which students learn biology by practicing the process of scienctific inquiry through investigative laboratory and field experiences. Elective courses at the upper levels provide focused training at all levels of biological organization. Biology seniors also complete a required capstone experience which may include thesis or service learning projects. In recent years we have graduated approximately 50-70 majors per year in Biology and its related disciplines, a majority of whom go on to graduate and professional schools within five years of graduation. The major's core courses begin with Bio 101 (Organismal Biology), followed in the sophomore year by Bio 242 (Cell and Molecular Biology) and Bio 270 (Ecology and Evolution). Incoming first year students have a variety of 100-level biology courses from which to choose as their entry point to the major or to satisfy the general education science requirements.
The Biology curriculum supports student use of modern biotechnologies and instrumentation including PCR, qPCR, and other molecular techniques, flourescence microscopy, analytical electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and digital acquisition of data and images. Students and faculty make extensive use of the Imaging and Computing Center located in Coram Library. © 2008 Bates College. All Rights Reserved. Modified on 6-17-2008 gja
