Comics Course Mentioned in Chronicle of Higher Education

This week's Chronicle of Higher Education contains one their occasional light-hearted columns, this time entitled "5 Courses We Wish We Could Take," by Ashley C. Killough. (Really, Chronicle, using a numeral in a title? As the first word? Sigh.) Anyway, it includes as one of its "5" courses Prof. Michael Burgett's "Far Side Entomology." "Using bugs featured in [Gary Larson's Far Side] comic strips, [Burgett] challenges students to explore the relationship between humans and earth's six-legged creatures." (And no, "Far Side" creator Gary Larson's name isn't featured in the brief paragraph.)The Chronicle is far from the first media outlet to make note of this course. Here are a few more examples:

• 'Far Side' Entomology Class Has Students Abuzz - NPR, January 4, 2005
• 'Far Side' approach earns bug professor national air time - The Daily Barometer, January 11, 2005
• The 15 Strangest College Courses In America - OnlineColleges.net, February 25, 2009
• Far Side Entomology defies norms, thrives as part of Honors College - The Daily Barometer, April 23, 2009
  
• In the Spotlight: Top scientist and top teacher--all in one - Oregon State University Headline News, undated

Prof. Burgett is well-known apart from his non-comics-related work, particularly for his expertise on bees. Some more examples:

• "On the Other Hand: A Class Merchant Retires in Little Known Town; Stories to Bug You," by Steve Begnoche; Ludington Daily News, January 30, 1991
• Food Insects Newsletter--Bees As Food - APIS 9.3, March 1991
• Honey, We've Lost the Bees, by Debra Gwartney; Albion Monitor, May 11, 1997
• OSU to Hire Researchers to Study Honeybee Health - Life@OSU, July 10, 2008

Congratulations to Prof. Burgett, who's not just a media-darling for his comics teaching, but an enthusiastic and well-respected all-around scholar and educator!

Image credits: Top - NPR Website, courtesy of Michael Burgett. Middle - The Daily Barometer, Photo Illustration by Justin Runquist.