Biology of Plants Plants have been on Earth for 500 million years and account for over 400,000 of described species. In this course students will explore this incredible diversity of plants from an evolutionary, physiological, and ecological perspective. We will examine unique anatomical, physiological, and developmental characteristics of plants, as well as broad phylogenetic patterns in plant evolution, and engage with primary literature that emphasizes and builds upon lecture material. In lab, we will explore local habitats, identify common local wildflowers, ferns, mosses, and trees, and learn ecophysiological techniques in the lab to measure plant stress and performance. Finally, students will design and conduct a greenhouse experiment that examines the effect of an environmental variable on plant development, performance, and/or growth.

Botanical Illustration: The Art of Science, The Science of Art The natural diversity of plants and the adaptations they possess is awe-inspiring and has been the subject of botanical illustration for thousands of years. In this course students will develop fundamental artistic techniques for capturing plant forms using a variety of artistic methods (graphite, charcoal, silver point, ink, watercolor) and a diversity of living plant specimens. Students will learn how to represent the broad scale of botanical diversity, from the shapes of trees via field-based journaling to the cells of mosses via microscopy-to-paper transcription. Students will develop a practice of close observation that challenges their assumptions of how they see the natural world, will master faithful transformation of 3D natural forms to 2D, and will be challenged to apply plant anatomical knowledge and form-function relationships to develop scientifically accurate, publication-quality illustrations in a feedback-rich studio environment.

Ecology and Evolution In this introduction to ecology and evolutionary biology we will cover the topics of interspecific interactions (competition, predation, mutualism), demography and life-history patterns, succession and disturbance in natural communities, species diversity, stability and complexity, causes of evolutionary change, speciation, phylogenetic reconstruction, and population genetics.   The laboratory component will examine lecture topics in detail (such as measuring the evolutionary response of bacteria, adaptations of stream invertebrates to life in moving water, invasive species and their patterns of spread).  We will emphasize experimental design, data collection in the field and in the laboratory, data analysis, and writing skills. This course is not open to seniors and second semester juniors.

The Living Deserts of North America What does the desert smell like after it rains, and why? How do desert organisms cope with harsh environmental conditions in diverse ways? How have socio-ecological systems shaped desert landscapes? In this course we will explore these types of questions through hands-on, experiential learning and place-based scientific observation. As a class we will gain background knowledge of desert ecology before a 10-day trip to the Mojave, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau Deserts of Western North America. Students will gain exposure to a diversity of desert landscapes, engage in round-table discussions with local and Indigenous groups around social and environmental issues impacting deserts, and conduct an independent field research project. This course requires participation in a 10-day field trip to the Southwest during spring break. (BIOL 140 and instructor approval).

Global Change Biology We will examine the effects of global climate change on the earth system. Our emphasis will be on exploring what we know about the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. We will examine primary literature-based case studies to reveal how biologists study processes of change on local and global scales, and we will assess how accurately we can predict future changes in species distribution and ecosystem function. In lab, we will apply simulation techniques to predict carbon dioxide and global temperatures into the next century, and couple citizen science platforms (e.g. iNaturalist) with species distribution modeling to predict ecological interactions in future climates. No prior computational modeling experience required/assumed.

Desert Ecology Drylands (deserts, semi-deserts, savannas) account for over 40 percent of Earth’s terrestrial area and are home to two billion people. They represent the most stressful of habitats, but also are home to organisms possessing the most incredible adaptations to survive. In this course we will explore the unique biology of desert ecosystems across the globe, using primary literature, review articles, and nonfiction works to answer: What selective pressures shape physiology and ecology in desert organisms? How have plants and animals evolved to survive in deserts? How are humans and climate change altering dryland ecosystems on local and global scales?

Deserts: Myths, Mystery, Magic From the Mojave to the Atacama to the Kalahari, Earth’s deserts are as fascinating as they are mysterious. In this course we will explore the unique biology of deserts, how humans interact (and have interacted in the past) with these ecosystems, and examine how deserts are portrayed in media and popular culture. Critically, we will evaluate the many myths that surround deserts (e.g. they are all lifeless, hot, best as solar farms) and dispel them with evidence from primary and secondary scientific sources.

Kirsten Coe

Reviews and ratings for Kirsten Coe at Middlebury College.Kirsten Coe teaches Biology of Plants, Botanical Illustration, Ecology and Evolution and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Kirsten Coe good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

A great overview of plant systems, photosynthesis, and plant genetics. Really interesting and super engaging, enjoyed it and had fun. Highly recommended for anyone interested in botany or life sciences!

I took this course a major requirement and I enjoyed going to class. The lectures very often encouraged collaboration with the student sitting next to you, then moved on to more of a group discussion. Each week there is a problem set which you then meet in a TA led session with about five other students. This was very helpful in solidifying concepts. The lab portion was definitely a lot of tedious work, but the lecture side was manageable. 

The most fulfilling, incredible, informative experience I've ever had at Middlebury. If you ever have the chance to take this course, drop absolutely everything and take it. Kirsten is incredible, the trip she arranged was nothing short of life-changing, and I really feel like this was an experience I will treasure forever. The actual class has prep readings and presentations leading up to the trip, and then after the trip, time is pretty much yours to work on an independent research storymap. I cannot stress enough how much everyone, biology and non, should take this course if possible. 