ROCKLAND — This spring semester which begins January 22, the UMA Rockland Center (URock) will offer three important sciences for those going into allied health careers, science and technology fields, or teaching certification for science education.

General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology and Conservation Biology are four-credit courses with laboratory components available locally.

BIO 110, General Biology, will meet Thursdays, from 10 to 11:45 a.m., for lecture with the lab scheduled from 1 - 3 p.m.

Chris Lage, doctorate, associate professor of biology for the University of Maine at Augusta, will teach the course. 

Lage's primary research interest involves the use of DNA technology to investigate wildlife and fisheries in and around Maine.

BIO 210, Anatomy and Physiology, will be taught onsite Tuesdays from 4 to 5:45 p.m., for the lecture segment with the lab following from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. 

Marta Frisardi holds a doctorate from Brandeis in biology and has significant years of research in genetics and cell biology. This course is required for any student considering careers in nursing, medical laboratory technology and other medical paths.

BIO 103E, Conservation Biology, is a new course this spring introducing the scientific study of the maintenance, loss and restoration of biological diversity. Topics include population declines and extinction, landscape level conservation planning and the role of conservation in protecting ecosystems.

This course will be taught by Jennifer Long, doctorate, on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Registration is currently open and ongoing and interested students are encouraged to contact UMA Rockland at 596-6906 to discuss registration for classes.

Students do not need to be in a degree program to take classes.

High school students who are interested in Early College opportunities are urged to inquire soon as space in these science classes is limited.

More information about these and many other college classes at UMA Rockland is available at uma.edu/rockland, or by calling 596-6906.