Science and Technology in American Society

HIST151101 + BIOL150301
Andrew Jewett, History, and Christopher Kenaley, Biology
1 History II + 1 Natural Science
MWF 2–2:50 (lecture) + Tues. 6–7:50 reflection + 1 lab section
What roles do science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) play in advanced, knowledge-dependent societies? This course examines our institutional and cultural relationships to innovation—our hopes and fears about STEM, views of science and religion and concepts of democracy, the emergence of DIY and geek culture, and more. It also explores ethical questions that have arisen in response to STEM, including debates over biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, climate change, and mass extinction. The course gives students the basic technical background they need to address these questions, and an opportunity to imagine a technological application of their own with which to address complex problems of the twenty-first century.
To register for this course:
(1) Register for both HIST151101 and BIOL150301
(2) Register for any one section of HIST1512 or
BIOL1502