BIOL 4253 - Principles of Ecology - Spring 2022

Textbook: Bowman & Hacker (2020) Ecology, 5^th ed.

Syllabus, PowerPoint files, assigned readings, etc. – enrolled LSU students had access to these items via the course's LSU Moodle page; others may contact Kyle to receive them electronically.

A thoughtful essay justifying basic science – P. Brennan (2013) "Why I Study Duck Genitalia"

A natural history note on caterpillars that eat dead gopher tortoise shells, in which the authors argue that this species (and by extension all species) are "infinitely worth knowing" (for both practical benefits, such as conservation purposes, and simply because they exist) – M. Deyrup (2005, see especially pg. 247) "A Caterpillar that Eats Tortoise Shells"

A thoughtful TED talk celebrating the "pursuit of ignorance" in science – S. Firestein (2013) "The Pursuit of Ignorance"

A thoughtful essay justifying basic science – A. Flexner (1939) "The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge"

A thoughtful TEDxLSU talk justifying basic science – J. Stephens (2014) "A Cathedral of Understanding"

A thoughtful essay about science and scientists – E. O. Wilson (1998) "Scientists, Scholars, Knaves, and Fools"

Marie Curie's thoughtful justification of basic science (quoted in B. R. Grant [2024, pg. 113] One Step Sideways, Three Steps Forward):
"We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like the radium a benefit for humanity."