Course Name: BSCI 40195 Poisons and Cures: The Power of Plants in the Renaissance and Beyond
Description: Florence during the Renaissance was a center of botanical knowledge, where plants were studied not only for their beauty but also for their medicinal and toxic properties. This interdisciplinary summer course explores the fascinating intersection of history, pharmacology, and plant biology, tracing how plants were used as both poisons and cures from the Renaissance to contemporary applications.
Students will examine the biochemical, ecological, and cultural roles of plants, learning how secondary metabolites function in plant defense, medicine, and human society. Through lectures, walking tours, and site visits, students will explore both historical and contemporary uses of medicinal plants, including visits to historic botanical gardens, markets, and pharmacies, experiencing firsthand the traditions of medicinal plant use and the design of medicinal gardens in Florence.
By the end of the course, students will understand how historical plant knowledge connects to modern pharmacology, plant biology, secondary metabolism, and the conservation of biodiversity.
The course is designed primarily for students in biology, neuroscience, plant sciences, pharmacology, horticulture, ecology, sustainability, and Italian studies, but all students from any major are welcome to participate.
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
This course is offered through the Kent Campus. Please review course tuition at /tuition to find costs for Kent campus tuition.