Living, Struggling and Surviving Microorganisms: As Necessary Friends and Unavoidable Foes in our Environments.

Ola Olapade, Ph.D., Microbial & Aquatic Ecology. Professor of Biology, Albion College.

Tuesdays, 10-12. February 5, 12, 19, 26. Ludington 113. (101 N. Superior St., Albion MI 49224).

The course will briefly explore the history, occurrences and distributions of diverse microbial groups in global human populations. We will particularly recognize the contributions of various important pioneers, including Hippocrates, Robert Hooke, Antoni Van Leewenhoek, Ferdinand Cohn, and Louis Pasteur, among several others over the years, to the fields of Microbiology, Epidemiology and Public Health in general. Concurrently, the class will endeavor to discuss the public health importance of various well documented interactions between microbes and humans, including the causation of communicable diseases, food spoilage, biotechnology, agricultural production, eutrophication, waste management, bio-deterioration, biofuel production and their subsequent attendant consequences or implications to human affairs using several approaches including short lectures, video documentaries, and quick laboratory activities, as much as feasible. The ultimate goal of this short course will be to further enhance our current understanding of and appreciation for the microbial world in particular and public health in general.