Instructor: Sheridan V. "Dan" Merritt, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Zoology & Environmental Science, University of La Verne

Mailing Address: 3930 NW Witham Hill, Apt 78, Corvallis, OR 97330
Telephone & email: 541 753-4257 merrittd@ulv.edu

Course description: Examines the nature of science and some of the challenges which recent developments in science and technology pose to society.

Goals and Nature of the Course:

In this course we will examine some of the ways that science and technology influence our institutions, our culture, our environment, and our individual lives. This examination requires an interdisciplinary approach. Topics covered will vary from one semester to another, but may include: Science as a Way of Knowing and Discovery; Growth of Scientific Thought; Images of Modern Science in the Media; Personal Encounters with Nature, Science and Nature; Science and Religion; Biology and Race/Gender; Ethical Issues in Biomedical Science and Technology; Global and Environmental Processes and Problems; Science, Technology, and a Sustainable Planet; Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other WMD. The course is designed to promote self-exploration as well as exchange of ideas among students of various backgrounds and interests. Prerequisites: Curiosity and an open mind--tempered by skepticism. .

Goals:

Through the analysis, discussion, and debate of specific issues and cases--some real and some simulated, we will better understand the assumptions that underlie our values and individual perspectives. Emphasis throughout the course will be on having the knowledge and understanding of currently accepted scientific explanations in order to participate in informed discussions of science and current social, political and environmental issues.

Course Activities:

The content of this course lends itself well to lecture and self-exploration, as well as discussion with others. In expressing our ideas, our knowledge, and our opinions we often achieve greater clarity and understanding of our own views and those of other people. In the traditional classroom format we would move easily between lecture/explanation and class or small-group discussions. In the on-line format you will be challenged to be more active in pursuing opportunities for discussing the scientific content and social issues raised. In addition to initiating exchanges with me and with your classmates via Biology 374 Blackboard Communication and email, I may ask you to establish dialogue directly with people in your life outside the class.
There will be assigned readings from course texts and from online sources. I will also ask you to view and reflect on a movie or two, which illustrate material addressed in the course.

Course Requirements:

Satisfactory completion of readings and other assignments, showing competency on the two scheduled essay exams and submitting a satisfactory Science and Society Notebook

Written assignments and written responses to questions about readings will be announced as new topics are addressed or noteworthy issues arise in the news media.

There will be two essay exams proctored by ULV-approved personnel. See the note below on Arranging for proctored exams. Please note that the University Of La Verne academic honesty policy, as stated in the catalogue, applies to this course.

Each student is required to submit a Science and Society Notebook, which is described below.

Your Science and Society Notebook serves as a term project. It will be devoted to the issues of science, technology and society that you explore, both within and outside the formal course materials, during the coming weeks.

It may include your thoughts and ideas, essays, poems, sketches, short stories written about or in response to readings, films, Web-searches, personal experiences. It is an opportunity to be creative, expressive. Just keep it relevant to the course.

The notebook may include copies of articles or Web pages, but each entry must be accompanied by a summary of the article and your response to it. I do not want, and will not accept, just a scrapbook of unexamined clippings or downloaded pages.

You may create and submit your own Web page or Blog as one entry in your notebook.

Your notebook should be well organized. Topical categories should be clearly indicated with tabs. It should include material on at least five of the following topics:

  1. Images of science. What ways do you find science and scientists are portrayed in the popular media? (Nerd in a white lab coat, evil manipulative genius, heroic rescuer etc.)
  2. a) Alternative images of, or metaphors for, Nature. (Benevolent mother, Raging beast, Defeated adversary, etc) b)Different ways of relating to Nature (Honoring, worshiping, exploiting, destroying, etc. c)Do the metaphors we hold influence our behaviors toward the earth?)
  3. Examine one or more developments occurring (since 1950) in science, medicine, and technology, in terms of he benefits they bring and the challenges they pose. For example ethical choices brought by developments in science and technology.
  4. Global (world-wide) challenges. Discuss some of the problems and alternative strategies for their solutions--such as air-water-land pollution, ozone depletion, species diversity depletion, global climate change, population growth, world hunger, world health, nuclear weapons proliferation, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, global arms trade, energy availability, AIDS, ...
  5. Other issues, such as science and racism, science and sexism, animal rights, research on human and/or animal subjects, technology and privacy rights, biological vs environmental determinism, ...
  6. Science as a subject of the arts. (Include your creations or someone else's.) Could be science fiction, poetry, art, film, cartoons, ...
  7. Discuss at length your relationship with Nature or write an account of a personal encounter with Nature.
  8. Science and religion. Science and spirituality. Religion and Nature. Spirituality and Nature. (These could be related in terms of modern or of tribal cultures.)

There are no upper or lower limits on the number of pages in the Science & Society Notebook. It need not be typed if it is neatly written. Please use a 3-hole binder notebook cover so that material can be inserted and removed easily. Use tabs to separate and identify the sections. Please ask for further clarification of the above topical categories, if you need it.

Arranging for proctored exams: Read carefully through the information below, and let Alene Harrison know what might work for you.

  1. The test must be proctored in a classroom or office setting. These are NOT online tests.
  2. You may test at a Regional Campus near you (Orange County, Inland Empire, San Fernando Valley, etc.) between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
  3. You may come to Alene's office on main campus to test between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday - by appointment. If you decide to do this, call or e-mail Alene for directions.

Note: There is an option of testing at your work or in the community (i.e., school library, church, community center, etc. Contact Alene for conditions and arrangements.

Evaluation:

Grades will be based on:

Two essay exams (25% x 2 = 50%) The notebook (25%) Participation, & written assignments (25%)

Texts and Supplementary Readings:

  1. Allen and Baker, Biology: Scientific Process and Social Issues (2001) (Order through Amazon.com or other on-line used book sellers.)
  2. Ecology, Spurgeon 1988 (from the series: Usborne Science and Experiments) This inexpensive and well illustrated paperback gives basic background information on ecology and it is written in a style accessible to the whole family. (It is available on the Internet from Amazon.com and other on-line booksellers.)
  3. Supplementary assigned materials will be provided as "handouts" or references from time to time.