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 July 4th 2022 Malaria
Week of July 11th Ascaris
Week of July 17th Giardia
Week of August 8th 2022 Fasciola hepatica
Week of August 15th 2022 Lymphatic filariasis
Week of August 21st 2022 Fish tapeworm
Week of August 29th 2022 Leishmaniasis
Week of September 5th 2022 Babesiosis
Week of September 12th 2022 Strongyloides
Week of September 19th 2022 Paragonimiasis
Week of September 26th 2022 Cryptosporidium
Week of October 3rd 2022 (Weekdays only)Dirofilaria 
Week of October 10th 2022 Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis spp.
Week of October 17th (Sunday only) Dirofilaria 
Week of October 24th 2022  Naegleria
Week of October 31st 2022 Trichuris
Week of November 7th 2022 Hymenolepsis
Week of November 14th 2022 Parelaphostrongylus 
Week of November 21st 2022 African sleeping sickness
Week of November 28th 2022 Anisakis
week of December 5th 2022 Dioctophymiasis
Week of December 12th 2022 Loiasis
Week of December 19th 2022 Schistosomiasis
Week of January  9th 2023   Sparganosis
Week of January 16th 2023 Chagas disease
Week of January 23rd 2023  Fox tapeworm
Week of January 30th 2023 Fish tapeworm
Week of February 6th 2023 Pork tapeworm
Weeke of February 13th 2023 Balantidium coli
Week of March  6th  Trichinella
Week of March 14th Mansonella
Week of March 21st Echinococcus granulosum
Week of March 28th Baylisascaris
Week of April 3rd  Canine hookworm
Week of April  10th Dipylidium caninum
Week of April 24th Cyclospora
Week of May 1st   Gnathostomiasis
Week of May 8th Sarcocystus neurona
Week of May 15th Dicrocoelium dendriticum
Week of May 22nd Acanthamoeba
Week of May 29th Enterobius vermicularis
Week of June 5th Acanthocephala
Week of June 12th Toxoplasma
Week of June 19th Scabies
Week of June 26th Toxocara canis
Week of July 3rd Coenerosis
Week of July 10th Neospora
Week of July 17th Visceral Leishmaniasis
Week of July 24th Fasciolopsis
Week of July 31st Botflies
week of August 7th Falciparum malaria
Week of August 22nd   Piroplasmosis
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