Montana State University summer courses focus on Yellowstone science

June 14, 2010 - PRLog -- Two summer courses from Montana State University will help teachers learn about the organisms and ecology of Yellowstone National Park's "extreme" environments, including the park's connection to current research in astrobiology.

"Thermal Biology in Yellowstone National Park" (LRES 557-01) runs June 21-25 on the MSU campus in Bozeman and includes an overnight trip to Yellowstone. The course examines the ecology of important organisms common in the park's thermal habitats, including the physical and chemical habitats that define their environments. Other topics covered include fundamental principles of thermal biology, methods of chemical, physical and biological analyses, microbial energy and biotechnology.

"Examining Life in Extreme Environments," runs July 19-23 and includes a day trip to Yellowstone. Students will examine extreme environments and discuss their relationship to the early Earth and current astrobiology research. Participants will receive resources and information that will help them discuss the topic within their own classrooms. The course is cross-listed as BIOL 580-03 and CHEM 580-03.

The primary instructor for both courses is MSU chemistry professor John Peters, who is also director of both MSU's Thermal Biology Institute and the NASA-funded Astrobiology Biogeocatalysis Research Center. The courses are suitable for any K-12 and community college teachers, as well as informal educators such as museum, zoo and science center professionals. Each course offers two MSU graduate credits.

MSU is often called the University of the Yellowstone® for its numerous research connections to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Many current studies involve life at the microbial scale, including organisms that live in Yellowstone's extremely hot, acidic or basic thermal features.

For more information about the courses, visit MSU Extended University at http://eu.montana.edu/ click on "Credit" and click on Biology, Chemistry or Land Resources. Phone (406) 994-6550 or toll-free (866) 540-5660 for more information.

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MSU Extended University is an outreach arm of Montana State University, offering continuing education, public outreach programs for youth and adults, and distance learning via Montana State Online.