Instructor:  Eric J. Simon

Tuesdays, 10 AM – Noon |  *September 28 and October 12 – November 2

We live in a golden age of biology. The scientific study of life affects each of us, our loved ones, and society at large in countless ways. The purpose of this course is to introduce learners to biology as a scientific discipline and then to survey several ways that the subject intersects with our daily lives. Topics will be chosen to be timely and relevant to all. This course is intended for learners of all backgrounds, with no prior knowledge or experience required.

Course outline (subject to change):

1. An introduction to science, biology, life, and evolution
2. Cancer: cells run amok
3. Nutrition: the study of life’s building blocks
4. DNA profiling: your genetic code
5. Performance-enhancing drugs: body hacks to improve athletes

Eric J. Simon, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Biology and Health Science at New England College, in Henniker, New Hampshire. He teaches introductory biology and tropical marine biology with a field component in Belize. Dr. Simon received a B.A. in biology and computer science and an M.A. in biology from Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Harvard University. Dr. Simon is the author of a widely used series of college biology textbooks with nearly 3 million copies in print.