This is a biology course aimed at teens who have a keen interest in the natural science and medicine. A different parasite will be presented every week. We will discuss many aspects of the organism's biology, such as its general appearance, life-cycle, how it affects its host and the disease it causes. Many parasites are very specialized and have complicated life-cycles that illustrate the complexity of nature. Parasitic diseases are among the most important diseases both in human and veterinary medicine, and we will discuss how they have affected mankind in the past as well as in the present.
I am a former researcher with a PhD in parasitology, so I welcome questions and discussions during the course. Because parasites are so interesting, it is easy to make this class fun and engaging. However, I want students to gain accurate scientific knowledge and to learn how to think scientifically. I will be drawing back on my own experience as a scientist.
Each class will begin with introductions and a brief presentation of the parasite of the week. Once I have established the level of the students enrolled, I will begin discussing the organism more in depth. We will finish with a short summary and general discussion.
I will be using slides to clearly illustrate each point and will use diagrams, pictures and videos so learners remain engaged and understand the concepts..

Topics covered are:

Week of August 28th  Onchocerca volvulus
Week of September 4th  Giardia
Week of September 11th Guinea worm
Week of September 18th Entamoeba histolytica
Week of September 25th  Ascaris
Week of October 2nd Fasciola hepatica
Week of October 9th Lymphatic filariasis
Week of October 16th Hookworm
Week of   October 30th Babesiosis
Week of November 6th  Strongyloides
Week of November 13th  Paragonimiasis
Week of November 20th  Cryptosporidium
Week of November 27th Parelaphostrongylus 
Week of December 4th  Dirofilaria 
Week of December 11th Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis spp.
Week of December 18th Naegleria
Week of January 8th 2024 Trichuris
Week of January 15th 2024 Hymenolepsis
Week of January22nd, 2024 Anisakis
Week of January 29th 2024 African sleeping sickness
week of February 5th 2024 Dioctophymiasis
Week of February 12th 2024 Loiasis
Week of February 26th 2024 Schistosomiasis
Week of March  4th 2024  Sparganosis
Week of March 11th 2024 Chagas disease
Week of March 18thth 2024   Fox tapeworm
Week of March 25th 2024 Trichinella
Week of April 1st nd 2024 Balantidium coli
Week of April  15 th 2024 Fish tapeworm
Week of April 22nd Mansonella
Week of May 6th Eimeria
Week of May 13th Baylisascaris
Week of May 20th ticks
Week of May 27 Pork tapeworm
Week of June 3rd Cutaneous leishmaniasis
Week of June 10th Fleas
Week of June 17th  Hydatid disease
Week of June 24th Sarcocystus neurona
Week of June 30th Canine hookworm
Week of July 7th Dipylidium caninum
Week of July 14th Cyclospora
Week of July 22nd  Gnathostomiasis
Week of July 29th  Dicrocoelium dendriticum
Week of August 26th Acanthamoeba
Week of  September 2nd Enterobius vermicularis
Week of  September 9th Acanthocephala
Week of   September 16th Toxoplasma
Week of  September 23rd Scabies
Week of September 30th  Toxocara canis
Week of October 7th Coenerosis
Week of October 13th Neospora
Week of October 20th Visceral Leishmaniasis
Week of October 28th Fasciolopsis
Week of November 4th Botflies
week of November 11th Falciparum malaria
Week of November 18th   Piroplasmosis 
Week of November 25th  Onchocerca volvulus