Featured Courses

Summer 2023

Snake in Hand
Student with Snake
Turtle

NRES 374 - Field Herpetology

Learn through hands-on experiences how to do research on native reptile and amphibian species while in a natural Nebraska setting.

4 credit hour

When: June 11 to 30, 2023

Where: Cedar Point Biological Station

Course Description

  • Learn to recognize and identify Nebraska amphibians, turtles and reptiles, and how to manage and conserve for them.
  • Learn methods, techniques and standards to collect herpetofauna field data.
  • Utilize critical thinking skills to propose conservation and management solutions.
  • Build a sound understanding of the diversity and ecological significance of amphibians, turtles and reptiles.
  • Build a background in herpetofauna morphology, physiology and ecological behavior.

More Information

Instructor

Enrollment & Housing

Students to Niobrara River
Students in Niobrara River
Flyer River

NRES 498 - Field and Research Experience in Limnology

3 credit hour

When: July 23 - August 4, 2023

Time: 8:00 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday

Where: Cedar Point Biological Station

Course Description

Limnology is the study of physical, chemical, and ecological processes that occur in inland waters.

  • This is a field-based course that will be taught at the Cedar Point Biological Station near Ogallala, Nebraska.
  • You will gain hands-on experience in a variety of limnological field sampling techniques, including how to sample water, sediment, and/or phytoplankton and zooplankton while aboard water craft, and basic laboratory analyses.
  • You will visit a variety of inland water types including reservoirs (Lake Ogallala, Lake Mcconaughy), lakes (Sandhill lakes), and possibly lotic systems (streams or creeks) to learn how to compare and contrast different types of aquatic ecosystems.
  • Learn to apply these techniques within the context of your own research question.

More Information

Prerequisites

BIOS 101/101L or LIFE 120/120L or PLAS 131/132 and CHEM 105 A/L or CHEM 109/109L

Instructor

Fall 2023

Deer in snow
Babby Bird
Urban Garden

NRES 260 - Intro to Conservation Photography

3 credit hours

When: Fall 2023 | Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:00 -12:15 pm

Where: 162 North Hardin Hall

Course Description

NRES260 is a hands-on course that will introduce you to photography in the field of conservation and natural resources. Students will learn

  • the history and ethics of conservation photography
  • photography tools and techniques
  • how to build a conservation photography project that inspires understanding and perhaps even action
  • post-processing
  • field techniques
  • various conservation storytelling mediums and platforms

Finish off the class with a well-developed photo-essay, presentation, and written story to add to your portfolio.

Prerequisites

An interest in photography, science, and conservation. Basic knowledge of DSLR and mirrorless camera is recommended but not required.

Instructor

Drilling Rig preparing to create a soil Core

NRES 299 - Introduction to Vadose Zone –Groundwater Systems Special Topics

Develop research skills in amazing Ecosystems

3 credit hours

When: Fall 2023 | Mon/Wed/Fri 10:00 - 10:50 am

Where: 162 North Hardin Hall

Course Description

  • How is groundwater quality impacted by surface processes, and what role does the Vadose Zone play?
  • Identify challenges associated with protecting groundwater quality.
  • The sampling requirements associated with common contaminants in the vadose zone-groundwater system.
  • Visualize how the groundwater is closely connected with our activities on the surface.
  • No Prerequisites

Fall 2023 Syllabus

Instructor

Three with Soil Cores
Forest understory
Urban Garden

NRES 299 - Soil Health and Environment Special Topics

3 credit hours

When: Fall 2023 | Mondays 2:00 - 4:50 pm

Where: 24 South Hardin Hall

Course Description

  • This class aims to motivate students to develop a life-long interest in observing and studying soil health and ecosystems while equip them with the academic skill set to apply soil health principles to plant growth, natural resource management, building practices, and environmental sustainability.
  • Outcome one, understand soil health is the soil’s capacity to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.
  • Outcome two, be able to assess the soil health status from different ecosystems (cropland, rangeland, forest, urban area, polluted areas, etc.).
  • Prerequisites: SOIL 153

Instructor

Braided River

NRES 370 - Applied Climatology

3 credit hour

When: MWF 11:00-11:50 am

Where: 228 South Hardin Hall

Course Description

For students who want to learn all about climate data, and to be able to use that data to identify and interpret the relationships between climate conditions and various human, economic, and ecological climate sensitive activities.

  • Outcome one: proficiency with different strategies of climate analysis.
  • Outcome two: knowledge of how stakeholders apply climate information to make timely decisions related to their climate sensitive activities.
  • Outcome three: experience with climate related tools and products tailored toward potential stakeholder decisions.

Prerequisite

Junior standing or above

Instructor

Grassland with Distant Horizon

NRES 398R - Research Experiences in Grasslands New Class

Develop research skills in amazing Ecosystems

1 - 3 credit hour option

When: Fall 2023 | Wednesdays 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Where: Keim 264

Cross Listings: GRAS 398R and PLAS 398R

Course Description

  • Ideal for students with an interest in grassland ecology, rangeland management, or any scientific degree
  • 1, 2, or 3 credit hour option
  • Satisfies UNL’s experiential learning and SNR’s career experience requirement
  • Learn to apply the scientific method
  • Get training in soft skills
  • Customize research to fit your interests
  • No Prerequisites

Instructors

Birds on River at Sunset

NRES 810 - Landscape Ecology

3 credit hours

When: Fall 2023 | Tuesday/Thursday 9:30 - 10:45 am (Lecture and GIS-lab)

Cross Listings: HORT 812

Course Description

  • From grasslands to woodlands and cornfields to cities, ecological processes and landscape patterns are linked to one another and human wellbeing. It is more important than ever to understand the ecology of landscape systems.
  • View landscapes as systems
  • Relate patterns and processes
  • Learn spatial analysis techniques
  • No prior GIS required
  • No Prerequisites

Instructor

Alexander von Humboldt

NRES 898-003 - Science Communication, Ethics, and Philosophy

An introduction to key areas necessary for success in a scientific career

3 credit hours

When: Fall 2023 | Tuesday/Thursday 12:00 - 1:15 pm

Where: 901 South Hardin Hall

Course Description

Graduate students in natural sciences are expected to be able to communicate to professional and lay audiences. A significant feature of this communication is that the data, analysis, summary and the communication itself all reflect high ethical standards and avoid even minor missteps. Additionally, in forming cogent scientific arguments sciences should draw on the philosphic basis for science.

Course Objectives

  • Indentify potential and actual ethical missteps associated with science and scientific careers, and articulate ethical principles for resoloveing question of right and wrong science.
  • Act as a professional guardian of the scientific literature
  • Be able to articulate and demonstrate a personal understandingof how science operates

Instructor

Fall Break 2023

Waterfall and Bison

NRES 493 - Bison & Waterfalls

1 credit hour

When: Fall Break 2023 | October 13 - 17, 2023

Course Description

About

Michael Forsberg and Jordan Messerer will lead a for-credit study tour to the Niobrara River and Sandhills regions during Fall Break 2023, “Bison & Waterfalls”. The 1-credit NRES 493 course will provide experiences paddling the Niobrara, waterfall hikes, and bison and grassland tours with a focus on how conservation organizations and private individuals work to conserve and manage this region of Nebraska and the species that live within it. Students will network with stakeholders and develop an awareness for the influence of culture, politics, economics, and history in natural resource management and use. The trip is limited to 8 students.

Trip Fee

This experience is approximately $350 (charged to student account), which covers all food, lodging, transportation, and site access during the trip.

Interested?

Students should submit an essay as Word or PDF to mforsberg2@unl.edu describing in one page why they want to participate in the trip and how they hope to benefit from the experience.

Deadline for Submission of Essays is Monday, April 24, 2023 at 11:59pm

Instructor

Winter Break 2024

Swimming with rays

Marine Ecology in the Bahamas

1-3 credit hours

When: January 11-18, 2024

Course Description

Explore tropical marine ecosystems and gain hands-on field experience at the Bimini Biological Field Station in South Bimini, the Bahamas.

Sign up for more information

Instructor