The rate of obesity continues to climb in the United States in all age groups. National reports, including the Trust for America’s Health annual report State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, highlight key findings and policy recommendations. The need to continue to work towards stabilization of the obesity epidemic could not be more important as consequences of this chronic disease can be dire, potentially affecting physical health with an increase in risk for chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer as well as potentially affecting behavioral health. Curbing the high rates of obesity is particularly of importance when considering the prevalence of childhood obesity, which is on the rise not only in the United States but is also increasing globally. Although there are certain risk factors such as genetics that are not modifiable in this group, there are many dietary, physical activity and environmental factors that are modifiable through lifestyle changes. This course will explore ways to address these lifestyle changes for children through adults with both federally- and NGO- based community interventions that are working towards combating overweight and obesity and how they aim to do so with a health equity lens in mind.

This book fosters the recognition of options for making progress toward increased environmental conservation through an understanding of the underlying science and practice of a variety of conservation techniques. Today, there are expected benefits from integrated science and practice, and many people are promoting this as the way forward to improve our environment. Over time, trends emerge regarding the best way to conserve the environment, but so far an outstanding solution has not emerged. Each conservation technique has its foundational concepts, limitations, and implementation issues. Reviewing a collection of techniques provides a basis for considering which approach will be best for any specific environmental challenge. This book should advance the recognition of the challenges managing the environment, techniques that can be used to address the challenges, and the ways they might help foster the integration of science and the practice of ecological conservation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Schedule
Best Laboratory Practices
Working in a Microbiology Laboratory

Exercises
Preparation of a Culture Medium
Culturing and Handling Microorganisms
Isolation of a Pure Culture
Counting Bacterial Populations
Controlling Microorganisms
Disinfectants
Antimicrobial Agents: Susceptibility Testing
Hand Washing
The Lethal Effects of Ultraviolet Light
Selection of Fungi from Air
Microscopy
Morphology and Staining of Bacteria
Microbial Metabolism
Enzyme Assay
Metabolic Capabilities
Microbial Genetics
Transformation of Escherichia coli
Isolation of Plasmid DNA
Restriction Enzyme Digestion of Plasmid DNA and Gel Electrophoresis

Appendices
A – List of Organisms Used Throughout the Semester
B – Vocabulary
C – Media
D – Intro to Micropipettes
E – Microscopy Pocket Guide
F – References and Supplemental Materials