Molecules are dynamic objects with diverse structural and electronic features that affect their chemical properties and reactivity. In this course, we'll introduce some concepts about the three-dimensional structure of simple organic molecules and discuss how that structure, as well as other properties such as electronegativity, can be used to explain and predict how molecules react. We'll end with some real-world examples that showcase the importance of organic chemistry in our everyday lives.

All life on Earth requires nitrogen to survive. An important component of proteins and DNA, nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere but difficult for organisms to use directly. This course is about the network of specialized microbes that make nitrogen available to other organisms before returning this vital element to the air. Focusing primarily on soil and ocean environments, we will discuss how these microbes transport billions of tons of nitrogen each year to complete a cycle that sustains both human and natural systems.

Soil microbes play a vital role in the carbon cycle and will react to climate change in uncertain ways. With access to 2.3 trillion tons of organic matter, these bacteria and fungi may significantly alter the Earth's carbon balance. Threats from microbial predators and the quality of available nutrients control carbon emissions by the bacterial and fungal population. These soil quality parameters are difficult to measure and models that describe microbial behavior reflect limitations of available data. This class presents the basics of soil ecology and outlines gaps in our understanding of soil carbon cycling. Recent data sets and models will be used in this analysis to describe the most pressing uncertainties that limit our knowledge of underground ecosystems.