In this course we will investigate the role that human activity can play in the ecological and evolutionary processes that generate, maintain, and perturb biodiversity in urban and rural, biotic and abiotic environments. Students will be introduced to contemporary ecology practices including computer-based simulations, statistics and modeling, as well as modern microbiological molecular and sequencing approaches. Ecosystem structure and processes in a variety of habitats, including soils, oceans, and the human gut as well as ethical considerations of sustainability, bioremediation and environmental justice will be reviewed to provide the foundational knowledge for an authentic four-week research project investigating the microbiome of the urban environment. Concepts will be reinforced with in-class assignments, case studies and discussions and learning evaluated by quizzes, laboratory write-ups, team projects, discussions of the primary literature, and in-class exams. This course satisfies the Foundation requirement for the Interdisciplinary Science major or minor. This course also satisfies the laboratory requirement for the Environmental Studies major, and the "subject by subject" course requirement for Journalism + Design Major. The course can also serve as a prerequisite for LSCI 3055 Microbiome of Urban Spaces research course.