Instructor: Dr. Paul McKenzie (US Fish and Wildlife Service Emeritus) The purpose of this class is for participants to know the differences between grasses, sedges and rushes; obtain a thorough knowledge of the grass flower and variations among different grass Tribes in the SE Appalachians; have extensive practice using dichotomous keys in lab; and examine […]

Stay tuned for course description and syllabus. Visit https://highlandsbiological.org/2022-academic-course-schedule/ for more information.

Instructors: Dr. Joe Pechmann (Western Carolina University) and Dr. Ken Kozak (University of Minnesota) Stay tuned for course description and syllabus. Visit https://highlandsbiological.org/2022-academic-course-schedule/ for more information.

Instructor: Dr. Mollie Cashner (Austin Peay University) Stay tuned for course description and syllabus. Visit https://highlandsbiological.org/2022-academic-course-schedule/ for more information.

Dr. Luiz Silveira (WCU) Did you know… That fireflies are beetles?  That our planet is home to over 2,200 firefly species? That all firefly species make light as larvae (immature stage), but many don't do it in the adult stage? That many fireflies can be identified by their species-specific flash pattern?  That over a dozen […]

Instructor: Dr. Paul Manos (Duke University) The course is designed for students of all sorts, professional biologists, and amateur enthusiasts. The goals are to introduce plant diversity with a community-based approach through field observations of the flora of the Blue Ridge: to emphasize basic distinguishing features among lycophytes, ferns and seed plants; to focus on […]

Instructors: Dr. Mike Caterino (Clemson University) and Dr. Paul Marek (Virginia Tech) A hands-on introduction to field and lab methods for the sampling and identification of arthropods living in leaf litter. Litter sifting will be practiced in multiple habitats. Following Berlese extraction of specimens, students will learn to identify the major groups and conduct preliminary […]

Bill Jacobs, Author of Whence These Special Places? The Geology of Cashiers, Highlands & Panthertown Valley  This workshop has grown out of Bill Jacobs’ book, Whence These Special Places? The Geology of Cashiers, Highlands & Panthertown Valley.  As reflected in both the book and his talks, Bill is particularly fascinated with how geologic processes, some dating back more […]

Instructors: Dr. Bill Peterman (Ohio State University) Amphibians are among the most imperiled taxa globally, with habitat loss and degradation posing the greatest threats. Landscape ecology and conservation biology provide an appropriate lens to address these threats. This course will provide an overview of landscape ecology and conservation biology principles as they pertain to amphibian […]

Margie Bauer (Natural science illustrator and artist) This 3-part course is to improve your drawing skills when drawing leaves. While each session may be taken by itself, the skills from the previous class(es) will be used in subsequent classes. Before students apply the botanical drawing skills in each session, students will be lead through a meditation process […]