Conservation Biology Major
An Undergraduate Major in the Department of Botany and College of Letters & Science

Katherine Plachta

Credentials: Conservation Biology and Legal Studies with Biocore Curriculum Honors Certificate (minor)

Position title: Program -Biocore Honors Introductory Biology classes

Conservation Biology student Katherine Platcha

Conservation Related Experience:
I completed the Biocore Program here at UW-Madison which is a four semester honors biology course. The first course is Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics which has a lecture and lab component. The first lab is conducted in the Biocore Prairie where you are given free reign to study whatever you wish. My group investigated the sucrose concentration preference of bees.

Connection to Conservation Biology:
Through my experiences in Biocore, I have gained a incredibly in-depth understanding of biology including everything from cell cycle regulation to microbial ecosystems. The program helped develop my critical thinking skills to be able to evaluate not just scientific arguments, but legal arguments as well. Hopefully, these skills will serve me well as I go on to law school and a possible career in environmental law.