Science and Math (SCIMA) courses develop students' capacity for evidence-based reasoning through the study of life, earth, and physical sciences and of computational and theoretical mathematics. In these courses, students learn to recognize and interpret meaningful patterns of information; to assess the validity of empirical claims, distinguishing between opinion and fact; and to understand the sociocultural relevance of scientific and mathematical thinking.The Anthropocene is a term used to signify global transformations wrought by ‘anthro’ – by people.  The Anthropocene is also a formal designation for a new epoch in Earth history, defined by geologists based on markers in the fossil record.  This class will review the current debate over dating the Anthropocene, examining competing markers including the rise of agriculture, the industrial revolution, and the post World War II “great acceleration,” in which human production and consumption have sky-rocketed.    The class will have a strong focus on biodiversity loss, why it is happening, and what can be done about it.  We will consider ethics in the Anthropocene, including colonial and racist underpinnings.  As we query ways to re-orient ourselves to a strange new world we will also help other life forms survive it.  Students will be required to make biodiversity observations using the online tool iNaturalist, providing a baseline for understanding species and as a way to foster connection with other life forms.Mary Ellen Hannibal is an award-winning Bay Area author of five books, including o.

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