Teaching
The following are some of the questions Andrew and colleagues will cover in the course.
- Is smoking really bad for you?
- Do fish feel pain?
- Do worms make children stupid?
- How much of you is human?
- What do socks and Notre Dame's stained glass have in common?
- What is the universe?
Course details
- To enroll in this course (SC200) for Fall 2010, contact the University Registrar.
- For more information on the course, contact Andrew at 814-867-2396 or via email.
Buy Victoria Braitwaite's book
©2010 Brian Chan
New Science Course for Non-Majors — to Debut this Fall
Science in Our World —Certainty and Controversy
Science is often in the news because it affects our everyday lives, shapes our view of the world and our place in it, and will have a profound impact on our future. Science in Our World — Certainty and Controversy will teach a critical appreciation of science and scientific thinking. The course aims to help make non-scientists distinguish good science from bad science and science from non-science.
Andrew will offer the course for the first time this fall. Teaching will be delivered by case studies of controversies within science, some of which are resolved, some of which are not. The course assumes no background knowledge - it is intended as a general education course for non-majors. Science majors are deliberately excluded. One section of the course will study arguments that are now largely resolved, but which still resonate, likely including child health and IQ, smoking, vaccine safety, and why the peacock has such a ridiculous tail.
Another section will focus on unresolved scientific controversies which may include climate change, personalized genetic medicine, passive smoking, nanotechnology, the scientific evaluation of the healing power of prayer, and deer management in Pennsylvania.
The course will end by discussing some radical changes in the scientific understanding of ourselves and our universe that have occurred during the lifetimes of today’s students – and predict “paradigm shifts” that might occur in the next twenty years.
Part of the in-course assessment will involve the evaluation of an open scientific issue, live in the contemporary media: why it is in the news, what are the scientists involved actually doing and arguing about, and how is the media is handling the science. The course will draw on Penn State experts. The focus of the course will be on the nature of scientific arguments, the way scientists evaluate problems, and why that process can generate controversy within science and beyond science – but at the same time, generate knowledge which profoundly affects our well-being and our understanding of ourselves.
Is smoking really bad for you?
Yes. But why are we so sure? And are we really sure that passive smoking is bad for you?
Do fish feel pain?
Buy Victoria Braithwaite's book- don't ask a psychologist in Florida. And google the book to see the passion dispassionate science can generate.
In a guest appearance on the course, Braithwaite a popular, dynamic teacher, leading fish researcher and now popular book author, will be summarizing the science behind the debate, what it means for fishing – and the reactions.
Do worms make children stupid?
Are drugs better than teachers?
How much of you is human?
What are you?
What do socks and Notre Dame's stained glass have in common?
Andrew has no idea. Mary Beth Williams , a hot chilli Professor who makes chemistry look (and sound) good, will explain.
What is the universe?
The Dean of Eberly College of Science , Dr Dan Larson, will summarize one of the most radical discoveries science has made in the lifetime of today’s students: we discovered we don’t know most of what’s out there.
Photo by NASA.
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