This course provides students with hands-on experience in a diverse array of conceptual research techniques used by ecologists and evolutionary biologists. The focus will be on optimization methods used for predicting animal and plant behaviors and life histories, and on methods for assessing population trends and dynamics. Mathematical techniques used will include graphical analyses, matrix algebra, calculus, and computer simulations. The latter part of the course will consist of collaborative modeling projects, in which small groups of students will work with the instructor to address an important contemporary research problem and will report their results in a public talk and a project writeup.