Moderation in biology

The process of moderation in biology is intended to:
  • evaluate whether a student is adequately prepared for the more intensive and independent work of the Upper College and whether they are capable of doing a satisfactory biology Senior Project;
  • assess the student’s intellectual maturity, clarity, and seriousness of purpose as well as their record in the Lower College;
  • provide recommendations for the student’s program of study in the Upper College.
Moderation typically takes place in the second semester of the sophomore year.

To prepare for moderation in biology, a student should successfully complete two introductory courses in biology numbered 140-199, and either Genetics and Evolution or Ecology and Evolution. In the semester of moderation, most students are enrolled in the second of the courses in this two-course sequence.

The moderation papers

In the semester of moderation, students should prepare the two Moderation papers required of all Bard students, as well as a third paper -- an analysis of a piece of primary literature in biology. Students should select one of the articles posted below, and respond, in no more than two typed pages, to the following questions:

  1. State, clearly and succinctly, the question or hypothesis being addressed by this research.
  2. Describe the general design of the study.  You should focus on the logic of the study rather than the procedural details.
  3. Characterize the strengths and weaknesses of the particular system the researchers used to address their question.
  4. Identify the key figure or table in the article, including an argument for why this is the key figure or table.

On the date when the moderation papers are due, the moderating student should turn in the two college-wide papers to the registrar, and send all three papers (the two college-wide ones, and the biology analysis described here) to Megan Karcher ([email protected]).  The members of the board will be selected for the student, based on availability.

The student is expected to come to the moderation prepared to discuss the article, and their written analysis of it.

For Fall 2025 moderations:
The college-wide papers are due by 5 pm on Wednesday, September 10, and should be sent to the Registrar ([email protected]).

The biology papers are due Friday, November 21 at 5 pm. By that date, all three papers (college-wide and biology) should be sent to Megan Karcher (karcherATbard.edu) by email.

For Spring 2026 moderations:
The college-wide papers are due by 5 pm on Wednesday, February 4, and should be sent to the Registrar ([email protected]).

The biology papers are due Friday, April 10 at 5 pm. By that date, all three papers (college-wide and biology) should be sent to Megan Karcher (karcherATbard.edu) by email.

Primary papers for 2025-2026


  • Clark-Wolf, T.J., Boersma, P.Dee, Plard, Floriane, Rebstock, Ginger. A., and Briana Abrahms. 2024. "Increasing environmental variability inhibits evolutionary rescue in a long-lived vertebrate." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121:34.  PDF
  • Gasiunas, G., Barrangou, R., Horvath. P., and V. Siksnys. 2012. "Cas9-crRNA ribonucleoprotein complex mediates specific DNA cleavage for adaptive immunity in bacteria." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109:39, 15539-15540.  PDF
  • Shah, Shailee and Dustin R. Rubenstein. 2023. "Group augmentation underlies the evolution of complex sociality in the face of environmental instability". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120:18. PDF  
  • Moger-Reischer, R.Z., Glass, J.I., Wise, K.S. et al.  2023. "Evolution of a minimal cell. Nature 620, 122-127. PDF
  •  Ruiz-Raya, Francisco and Alberto Velando. 2024. "Lasting benefits of embryonic eavesdropping on parent-parent communication. Science Advances 10:35. PDF
  • Lopez-Goldar, Xose, Zhang, Xuenging, Hastings, Amy P. and Anurag A. Agarwal. 2024. "Plant chemical diversity enhances defense against herbivory" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121:51. PDF
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