We provide a 5E structured-inquiry lesson so that students can learn more of the mathematics behind the logistic model of population biology. By using models and mathematics, students understand how population dynamics can be influenced by relatively simple changes in the environment.

The "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS Lead States, 2013) recommend that science courses engage communities of students in scientific practices that include building accurate conceptual models of phenomena central to the understanding of scientific disciplines. We offer a set of activities, implemented successfully at both the…

In the biology community there has been a call for integrating lessons on population growth rate and the human population crisis into biology classrooms. Ecologists fear that students do not understand the relationship between the magnitude of the human population growth and Earth's carrying capacity, as well as some basic ecological concepts. The…

The concept of population growth patterns is a key component of understanding evolution by natural selection and population dynamics in ecosystems. The National Science Education Standards (NSES) include standards related to population growth in sections on biological evolution, interdependence of organisms, and science in personal and social…

Presents a set of six activities in population genetics for a college-level biology course that helps students understand the Hardy-Weinberg principle. Activities focus on characterizing a population, Hardy-Weinberg proportions, genetic drift, mutation and selection, population size and divergence, and secondary contact. The only materials…

A survey of attitudes of college students indicated they desired few children, were more receptive to sterilization, and had a general ignorance about methods of birth control and possible side effects of sterilization. These results are in contradiction with another, similar study. Replication of the study is suggested. (PS)

Presents a strategy to help students grasp the important implications of population growth. Involves an interactive demonstration that allows students to experience exponential and logistic population growth followed by a discussion of the implications of population-growth principles. (JRH)

Reviewed are trends in birth rates and food production energy requirements. Concludes that control of human numbers would prevent a threatened serious food shortage. (SL)

Suggests a course suitable for the general education of all college students using biological topics as a bridge between sciences and humanities. (AL)

Surveys the importance of women, actual and potential, to environmental problems, and suggests some solutions to women-related dilemmas both in terms of present and future roles. (Author/JR)

Discusses biological contributions to the changes occurring in today's society, stressing the need for modifying traditional ethics. Issues include contraception and abortion, fetal research, population control and food supply, individual freedom versus common welfare, and euthanasia. Suggests that study in personal and group ethics be…

Presents an open ended list of delusions about population which are based on expansionist economics and contends that dispelling these delusions, and others, will allow us to come to grip with the population problem. Some of the delusions presented concern birth control, sharing the wealth, and energy shortages. (BR)

Describes a simple manual simulation exercise used in a college sophomore course in environmental biology. Demonstrates ways in which biotic potential and other physiological and behavioral characteristics of living organisms may interact with environmental factors to produce the kind of population behavior actually observed in the real world. (JR)

Presents several conceptual models dealing with issues in environmental education. Models described are: (1) Population/Resources/Pollution, (2) Cause-and-Effect Analysis, and (3) Ethical Analysis. (CS)