Science is a discipline about discovery and pushing the boundaries of our understanding. With science and technology come great advances—cloning, nuclear power, and chemotherapeutics, as well as a large price to pay—eugenics, climate change, and drug-resistant pathogens. During the 20th and 21st centuries scientists operated under the mantra “We can therefore we do,” but is that appropriate? Is science going too far? Is it pushing the boundaries of what should be done by what can be done? This FSEM will examine some of the greatest scientific advances in the last 50 years, the impacts they had on society, and the cost of these advancements. Individually and as a group we will critically examine the impact of past advances (as well as future potential advances), examine information from multiple disciplines to fully understand the ramifications of each advancement, and utilize both written and oral discourse on these sometimes highly controversial topics.
While each student will research, analyze, and present a scientific advancement and future breakthrough of their choice, the course will start with a reading of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as a good introduction of examining scientific advancements through many lenses and in the context of the historical time period in which they occurred as well as the current-day ramifications.
This FSEM counts as an Honors-designated class.