Des Moines Area Community College

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Allan Scott Helgeson

Instructor
Biology Department
Urban/Des Moines Campus

To Find the URBAN/DES MOINES WEBSITE

http://www.dmacc.edu/urban  Click on this link

to find Urban Campus phone Numbers, follow this

LinkW:\phonecampus.htm

 

 

ØGeneral Information

Hello, my name is Allan (Scott) Helgeson, and I have been at Des Moines Area Community College Urban/Des Moines campus for Seventeen full years . This is the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had! (Well other than the time when I worked for Masochists incorporated, but that’s another story). I always like to keep this page updated because I hope it is accessed on a regular basis and it only seems fair to keep it updated.

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I have an interest in teaching students two things.  First of all, I wish to teach them how to learn (You’d be surprised how little some know about learning and study skills).  Second, after they have learned how to learn,  I wish them to learn the subject matter of the classes which they take.  Some of you may know me personally, others have heard of me and still others wouldn’t know me if they saw me.  That’s all OK because sometimes, I don’t know me either so, if you take one of my classes, you can learn about me and I can learn about you and we can both learn the subject matter together because in the field of Biological Science there are new discoveries every day!  Things which last year or maybe even last month, might have been science fiction are reality today especially in the field of Genetics and Genomics.  It is incredibly exciting!  I hope you will allow me to lead you on a road to discovery which will provide you with surprises for the rest of your life!  My area of expertise is Biological Science, as you might have guessed.  Do you know what is really exciting about Biological Science at DMACC?  What is really exciting is that there are many more excellent full time and adjunct instructors ready to help you to learn Biological Science, here.  Hey, what are you waiting for?!

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ØEducational Background

I have a Master’s degree  in Biology received in 1975 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  I attended Rice University, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha doing graduate work on my PhD.

ØCommunication Information

ashelgeson@dmacc.edu
ashelgeson@msn.com

Work:  515-248-7240     Cell   515 – 201- 5756
Home:  515-961-8286

Urban Building 2
Room 207

ØInterests  99

I enjoy writing.  I have written 3 books which some people might call interesting.  They deal with a                    Universal type of philosophical approach to Life the Universe and Everything.  If you feel that you might be interested in reading them, E-Mail me and perhaps I can send you a chapter and you can decide if you really are interested. Or You may Click HERE for Book 1 or HERE for book 2..

I have taken a course in Paranormal Phenomena as well which caters to a strong interest which I have in psychic phenomena and Forteana. John Keel, the author of Well known books such as The Mothman Prophesies and Operation Trojan Horse to name only two is a very interesting individual with whom I recommend you become familiar for some general and contemporary information concerning him CLICK HERE

(Look up Forteana or Charles Hoy Fort Using Google or your favorite search engine)  If you wish a quick definition, click here.

Now That you know what Fortean Phenomena are, here are a few more interesting links Including the most important one in a way, for a Scientific approach        to things The Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.  The American Society for Psychical Research deals with some of the same phenomena, but where the CSICOP seems to like to chide us as a species for our gullibility, The American Society for Psychical Research merely wishes to gain Scientific insight into them, no matter where that leads.

 

Speaking of Paranormal, the occurrences in New Orleans pertaining to Hurricane Katrina left some very strong psychic impressions which seemed to pervade and perhaps to invade our area. If any of these have taken root somehow, I recommend highly that you contact The Iowa Center for Paranormal Research because either they will be able to assist you or they will point you towards some organization  that can.

I also want to introduce you to the Science of CRYPTOZOOLOGY which the guys at CSICOP seem to take exception to, somewhat.

If you are interested in the UFO phenomenon and wish information on the present state of things go to THIS LINK SITE

If you are a FAN specifically of BHMS (Big Hairy Monsters) try this BIG HAIRY LINK  -- OR THIS ONE which should lead you to other sites of interest as well.

The reason that I approached Forteana first and then CSICOP is because CSICOP does (Better than any other organization) exactly what Charles Hoy Fort demanded of science overall. Deal with the facts, examine the legends, dispose of the hoaxes and FIND THE TRUTH no matter whether its what you wish it was or not.  If you are here at MY website you probably know that I am interested in Scientific Truth.  I have no actual preconceptions. Neither should you!

Obviously, I do need a link to some aspect of FORTEANA in order to complete this particular links list. Of course I don’t truly KNOW that any of this has validity, but it is interesting!

 

By the way, I’d like to recommend a movie to you.  It is called “What the ‘Bleep’ Do We Know”.  It is a movie concerning Universal Truths as they might be discovered by studying Quantum Mechanics.  The question: “How far down the rabbit hole (whole) do YOU want to go?”, will mean more after you see the movie.  While I am recommending Films, I would also like to Recommend Michael Moore’s Film, SICKO and Al Gore’s AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.

If you want to go a bit further down the “Rabbit Hole”, See Loose Change which you can download from U-Tube (2nd version is best) and watch Who Killed The Electric Car?

 

   ØClasses taught in the Past 

Biology 127 (now 156), 132 (now 732), 134, 141 (Now 112), 142 (Now 113), 149 (Now 187), 165 (Now 146)

I have also taught Biology 118 and Chemistry 120 and 131

 

  CLASSES BEING TAUGHT PRESENTLY (Fall 2008))

Biology 732; Health Science Microbiology      Biology 112 General Biology 187 Microbiology w. Lab                                                              

Power Points from Alcamo Micro Fall of 2008) (Click here on each chapter)

Ch1, Ch2, Ch3, Ch4, Ch5, Ch6, Ch7, Ch8, Ch9, Ch10, Ch11, Ch12, Ch13, Ch14, Ch15, Ch16, Ch17, Ch18, Ch19,

Ch20, Ch21, Ch22, Ch23, Ch24, Ch25, Ch26, Ch27

 

Here are the Power Points from Johnson’s Human Biology.  Ch1, Ch2,Ch3A, Ch3B, Ch4,Ch5, Ch6, Ch7, Ch8, Ch9, Ch10, Ch11, Ch12, Ch13, Ch14A, Ch14B, Ch15, Ch16, Ch17, Ch18, Ch19, Ch20, Ch21, Ch22, Ch23, Ch24 .

 

Here are power Point slides for Bio 187 from Black’s Textbook.  Ch1, Ch2, Ch3, Ch4, Ch5, Ch6, Ch7, Ch8, Ch9

Ch10, Ch11,  Ch11ex Ch12, Ch13, Ch14, Ch15, Ch16, Ch17, Ch18, Ch19, Ch20, Ch21, Ch22, Ch23, Ch24, Ch25,

Ch26

For some reason it is difficult to put the power points from Campbell’s Biology 8th ed. on here.  Sorry

 

LIST OF ALL BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE CLASSES TAUGHT AT URBAN/DES MOINES CAMPUS

Biology Classes offered at DMACC’s Urban Campus include:

Acronym

Course Name

Credit

Lecture Hours

Lab Hours

Semesters Offered

BIOL 118

Environmental Conservation

3

3

0

Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL 119

Environmental Conservation Lab

1

0

2

Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL 126

Field Biology

3

2

2

Summer

BIOL 156

Human Biology

3

2

2

Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL 732

Health Science Microbiology

4

3

2

Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL

733

Health Science Anatomy

3

2

2

Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL 734

Health Science Physiology

3

2

2

Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL 112

Principles of Biology I

4

3

2

Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL 113

Principles of Biology II

4

3

2

Spring, Summer

BIOL 187

General Microbiology

4

3

2

Fall

BIOL 154

General Anatomy and Physiology

5

3

4

Fall, Spring

BIOL 146

General Genetics

3

3

0

Spring

 

Syllabi based on OUTLOOK FORMAT

HEALTH SCIENCE MICRO UBM

HEALTH SCIENCE MICROBIOLOGY UAM/UDM

GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY (Not Current as of Jan. 1 ’06)

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1 ( Not Current as of Jan. 1 ‘06)

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1 UB (Not Current as of Jan. 1 ‘06)

GENERAL BIOLOGY 2 UAA

GENERAL GENETICS

Here is a LINK to some interesting facts about some of the more common FUNGI

If you liked those fungi, here is a LINK to some interesting Information on BACTERIA

THE CONTROVERSEY OVER EVOLUTION

CLICK HERE FOR EXPLANATION

 

Here are some slides covering the subject of MITOSIS to see them CLICK HERE

 

The other type of Cell Division which is significant to the production of sex cells is called MEIOSIS. To see slides on plant MEIOSIS  CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

There are some pages which relate more to our Biology department and to our Chemistry department which  I believe are capable of providing you with needed information.  These pages refer to some other Instructors in our Group. First of all, I wish to introduce you to our Laboratory staff. To See Them Click Here



We also need to acknowledge The Other Science when we talk about Biology, so – for a perspective on Chemistry you may see David Vanderlinden’s Web Page

 

We added two new full-Time Biology instructors this year. Their Names are Marcia Walton and Anthony Goodrich. To see some information concerning them come back to this site later or look for them on their own Web Pages. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic images courtesy of The Graphic Station

Copyright 2004/2003 A.S. Helgeson