Behavioral Evolution

MEDICINE & BIOSCIENCE

Course Description
How does a sparrow navigate using the earth's magnetic field? How do different animals speak to each other? How does social rank affect the decisions of primates? This course will give an overview of the diverse behaviors that have evolved throughout the animal kingdom. This course is integrative and will include discussions that focus on zoology, molecular biology, neuroscience, cognition, and comparative psychology. While course topics will be discussed in different animals, we will connect these phenomena to human behavior and mental health.
Grades: 7-9
Time: 7:00pm EST (New York Time)
Category: MEDICINE & BIOSCIENCE
Instructor: Sebastian Alvarado, PhD
Co-Teach: Maral Tajerian, PhD

William Scott

Sebastian Alvarado, PhD

PhD in Pharmacology
Postdoctoral Stanford University

Sebastian Alvarado worked at three separate biotechnology startups in Canada and the USA before pursuing a Ph.D. at McGill University. Following his doctoral research, he was awarded an A.P. Giannini Fellowship to continue his work at Stanford University. Dr. Alvarado is interested in how plastic molecular substrates can shape a genome to dynamic changes in the environment. His research has shown how diverse animals can shape the function of their genes to changes in size, metabolism, chronic pain, and social status. These projects have allowed him to study shrinking/enlarging ants, hibernating ground squirrels, human/mouse models of back pain, and cichlid fish from Africa. He is currently an assistant professor at the City University of New York where he is leading research related to how different animals adapt their color and behavior to changing visual environments. Outside of his research program, Sebastian consults science to the entertainment sector (Marvel, WB, etc) and has recently authored a book about the "Science of Marvel".

“I would like to thank Eduexplora for giving me the opportunity to participate in this program. I have done, learned and experienced things I never thought I would. It was an amazing experience, and I am so thankful for being able to participate.”

Enzo - Peru

Program Calendar:
July 19-30, 2021
(Monday – Friday)
Real-Time Classes Duration:
1 hour & 45 minutes long
(with a 15-minute break)
Max Class Group:
Small class size
(20 students max)

Program Courses

Grades 7-9

For grade 9 students all course options are available.

Start this amazing experience
Register Now