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Course Description: Mad cow disease, bird flu, anthrax! What threat do these and other microbes present? This course is designed to help the average citizen better understand the role of microbes—the helpful as well as the harmful—in our lives. Topics will include a discussion of recent microbial threats (such as bird flu, tuberculosis, MRSA, anthrax, mad cow disease, etc.); how our body protects us on a daily basis; how vaccines work; our modern antimicrobial tactics and how they often go awry; and how microbial activities benefit us (by producing food, recycling nutrients, cleaning up toxic waste). The goal is to separate valid concerns from fears that are not grounded in the facts. In other words: how to be safe but not paranoid. This course is designed for the lay person; you do not need a background in biology, only an interest in our topic.
Meeting Place and Times: Six sessions: Thursdays, 2:30 to 4:30 from Oct. 16 to Nov. 20. All sessions meet at the Museum of the Rockies.
Instructor(s): Kari Cargill, PhD. Kari Cargill teaches in the Department of Microbiology, Montana State University. She has been teaching microbiology for over 20 years and especially enjoys bringing the subject to life for students who think they do not have an aptitude for science. Kari has taught courses and labs in Infectious Diseases, Medical Bacteriology, Hematology, Immunology and Eukaryotic Pathogens. She also teaches a summer microbiology course for nursing students at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Prerequisites: No prior knowledge is required. This will be a lecture- and discussion-based course. A book, "Good Germs, Bad Germs," as well as some videos will add supplementary material to that presented in class. Students will also be asked to notice news items relating to microbiology.
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per week. If you are unfamiliar with this field of study and/or method of delivery, you may require more time.
Cost: $75.00
$110 for Wonderlust non-members. How do I become a member?
Optional Books/Materials:
For More Information: Contact MSU Extended University at ContinuingEd@montana.edu or (406) 994-6683.
How to Register: Contact the Office of Continuing Education at ContinuingEd@montana.edu or call (406) 994-6683 or toll free (866) 540-5660.
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