Microorganisms are immensely numerous, extremely diverse, and play critical unseen roles in ecological networks across every inch of our planet. Microbes are integral and influential features of our environment, whether they’re symbiotic partners, disease-causing antagonists, fermenting food-makers, or free-living nutrient cyclers. In many ways, our lives would be markedly different without the services they provide. This class will explore the vast diversity of microbial life and how they interact with other microorganisms, larger organisms, and even humans. Through several case studies focusing on fungi, we will also explore complex symbioses, diseases, and ecological communities, investigating current concerns in human health, the conservation of threatened species, agriculture practices, and ethical issues. The concepts we learn in this class will be reinforced with in-class discussions, assignments, assigned reading, and activities, including occasional labs. In our labs, we will peer into the microscope to observe our local microbiota here in New York City, identifying microbes to their major taxonomic groups and observing their behavior and interactions on the microscope slide. Students should expect to produce write-ups on their exciting laboratory work, complete projects, participate in discussions of relevant literature, and take quizzes and exams on the content we learn in class. This course satisfies the Foundation requirement for the Interdisciplinary Science major or minor. This course also satisfies the Natural Sciences subject area for the Environmental Studies major and the "subject by subject" course requirement for the Journalism + Design major.