First-Year Seminar (101-6-01)
Topic
Biology & Society: Promises & Perils
Instructors
Marcelo Vinces
Meeting Info
Allison Residential Comm 1021: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00AM - 9:50AM
Overview of class
The word biology describes both the characteristics and processes of life and living organisms, as well as the discipline that studies these. Like all the natural sciences, the study of biology is a data-driven endeavor, concerned with describing, predicting and understanding natural phenomena based on evidence from observation and experimentation. But like all human activities, it does not exist in objective isolation, but rather within a societal context. And biological phenomena, such as infection and disease, interact with non-biological elements of human society. This course aims to contextualize the study of biology towards a better understanding of how social and cultural histories and dynamics have had a profound effect on both biological research as well as biological phenomena, and how social, political and economic parameters influence the impact of scientific breakthroughs and the outcomes of biological events such as epidemics. The topics we will cover, among others: the cultural, political and societal barriers to reaping the benefits of biological research; the damaging legacies of racism, sexism and colonialism on the biological research enterprise; the role of communications in the field of biology; and select biological topics in evolution, genetics and disease. Students will learn from press articles, academic literature and non-fiction books (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot; Pandemic, by Sonia Shah).
Teaching Method
This is a discussion-based course with minimal lecture. Attendance and participation in the discussion, in class and online, will be critical to learning in this course.
Evaluation Method
Students will be evaluated by class participation, online discussions, and response papers. There will be no final exam.
Class Materials (Suggested)
Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, ISBN 978-1-4000-5217-2 Shah, Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond, ISBN 978-1-250-11800-4
Class Attributes
WCAS First-Year Seminar
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for First Year & Sophomore only
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required