This course is about insects, the animal taxon that represents 50% of all life forms on Earth. During this course students will explore this incredible diversity by studying insects from inside out and learning about major evolutionary events in the last 500 million years that shaped this incredible diversity. This course will also highlight the beneficial and detrimental roles insects play in human society: students will gain insights into medical and veterinary entomology, coastal entomology, principles of sustainable pest management and insect conservation. Throughout the course, students will broadly apply online tools for insect identification and will be exposed to community driven nature conservation and monitoring efforts using online applications, such as inaturalist and bugguide. Lab.