this option is intended to train students who are interested in understanding the ecology of organisms in natural environments, and/or in understanding how organisms may be used to clean up environments that have been disturbed by human activities. the curriculum launches from a base in environmental science which includes a broad knowledge of organisms (including plants, animals, and microorganisms) and the physical and chemical characteristics of natural environments. a special feature of this option is that it emphasizes cross-training between the traditional disciplines of biology and microbiology. students trained in biology or microbiology normally focus on either large or small organisms or on human biology and disease. but, even biologists trained as ecologists have a poor understanding of microorganisms, despite the fact that they appreciate the great importance of microorganisms in most natural environments. similarly, most microbiologists do not understand the diversity of large organisms and are never exposed to natural principles of ecology and evolution. in the lres environmental biology option, students will develop a knowledge of the diversity of organisms and their interrelated functions in complex environments. in later stages of the curriculum, students may select from a wide array of upper division courses in environmental microbiology, natural ecosystems, applied ecology, and policy and planning that enable them to specialize in areas best-suited to their own career vision.