You have now completed the requirements of RMHS for the course HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 528. Your instructor contends that you have "just begun" your study of physiology and would like each of you to complete any of the first group (Books), and any of the second group (trips, museums, and so on.) This course is just the beginning of acquiring knowledge about physiology. Obviously, these lists register the interests and educational prejudices of your instructor.

When you complete a book or visit, send me a post card with a few lines about the book or visit. Cards are noted in my grade book and you will get a special award and ultimately, a "Citation Certificate" upon course completion. Send post cards to me, c/o RMHS Science Division, 2901 Central Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. If I'm retired by the time you get to this (in another 15 years!) you'll still remember my phone #. (This must be done to get "credit." There is no time limit for this. You have the rest of your life to do it.) Enjoy this assignment, grow and learn!

LIST ONE: BOOKS OR COURSES:

1. The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat , by Oliver W. Sacks, Summit Books, New York, 1987.

This is a collection of essays from the author of Awakenings. He is a neurologist and the essays contain real accounts of anomalies found in his patients - some are entertaining in spite of their seriousness.

2. The Island of the Colorblind, by Oliver W. Sacks, Alfred Knopf Publisher, NY, 1997.

This is about a tiny isolated community of islanders born totally colorblind. Dr. Sacks sets up a clinic and listens to these achromatopic islanders describe their colorless world in rich terms of pattern, tone, luminance and shadow.

3. Awakenings , by Oliver W. Sacks, Summit Books, New York, 1988.

This is a book about a doctor who tries to treat a group of patients in a mental institution with a simple 'cure' based on the history they have in common. It was made into a movie, but read the book, it's better.

4. The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating, by David M. Buss, PhD. This is not what it sounds like! No pornography here. The findings in this book are academic and provocative. It is a scientific study of human sexuality. It's incredibly good and the chapters, once you get beyond Chapter 1, can be read out of order. The logic of strategies are explained with our evolutionary past, despite cultural variability. It is excellent!

5. Take a medical physiology course, Animal Physiology Course, Human Physiology course, Diseases course, etc. Be sure the course is concentrating on physiology and not on anatomy. Send me a review of the course, what you felt was most challenging, what you felt the biggest drawback to be, why you liked, disliked it, etc.

6. Take a Human Sexuality course at your college.

7. Get into the INTERNET and find interesting things. Be sure to check my homepage periodically http://rmhs.d214.org/staff/gurley-dilger/ . E-mail me at lgurleyd@dist214.k12.iil.us.

LIST TWO: TRIPS TO TAKE/PLACES TO VISIT

1. Museum of Science and Industry, S. 57th St. and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago.

Go up to the second floor and spend your time with the medical/physiology exhibits. You'll especially like the human body longitudinal sections, all meticulously identified ad nauseum. Then view the heart display and the nervous system display. By the time you go there, they may have other things of physiological interest as well.

On the first floor is the Nutrition Exhibit. It is computer interactive and you will find it fun and interesting.

2. University of Illinois Medical School, Chicago, IL.

These folks have a great library opened to the public but they also have a museum of sorts with historical information. Some of the items on display may really surprise you!

3. Visit any organic grocery store and do ALL your food shopping for all meals for one week with less than 20% fat, at least 25% protein, and 75% carbohydrates in your diet.