Form, Function, and Evolution in Louisiana’s Fishes

This four-day workshop introduces students to the diversity and evolution of Louisiana’s fishes. Students will learn how to recognize common fish families using visible traits, explore how morphology reflects ecology, and connect those traits to evolutionary relationships through a simplified phylogeny. The course culminates in a field-based visit to the Tulane Biodiversity Research Institute (TUBRI), where participants will see how biodiversity data, specimens, and digital imaging come together to tell the story of fish evolution. This course emphasizes hands-on learning, team-based inquiry, and scientific communication. Students will practice observation, critical thinking, and visual reasoning while engaging directly with real specimens and digital tools used by researchers. No prior experience with fish biology is required; just curiosity and a willingness to explore!