Planned for 2020/21, this 3-week online course will provide an introduction to evolutionary theory. The course will begin by looking at the development of evolutionary theory from the 18th to 20th centuries. The evidence for evolution will be outlined followed by a discussion of evolutionary theory as it stands today. The course will end with an overview of the history of life on earth (an in-depth course on the history of life an earth is planned for the future).

Proposed course outline

• The development of evolutionary thought
• The evidence for evolution: morphological similarity of living species / the fossil record / embryology / vestigial structures / biogeography / molecular evidence
• Evolutionary theory: the unit of selection / punctuated equilibrium / allopatric speciation / genetic drift / convergent evolution
• A brief history of life on earth

You will also be able to take part in discussions with other participants and I will be available to answer your questions. Each course unit has reading material with a test at the end. The reading material can also be downloaded and read offline.

Prerequisites: no prior knowledge is required

Availability: 2020/21

Price: TBA

Please get in touch if you are interested in taking part in any of the courses or would like further details. 

Images sources:  Left: Public Domain; centre:  Zephyris, CC BY-SA 3.0; right: TimVickers, Public Domain.