THIS COURSE HAS CURRENTLY FILLED FOR FALL 2025.
We don’t have to look far today to find scientific issues viewed as controversial or with distrust—vaccines, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and climate change, just to name a few. Although essential in the advancement of our civilization, scientific discoveries are often met with doubt, fear, and resistance. As well, the trope of the mad scientist is ubiquitous in our culture. Why do so many hold this view of science and scientists? Has it always been this way?
In this course, we will explore the relationship between science and society in depth by looking at examples of how scientists have been perceived and described in literature, cinema, and other media. We will begin with what some call the first true science fiction story, Frankenstein, and continue through to modern depictions such as the in graphic novel Watchmen. In our reading, we will meet well-intentioned scientists who have merely “gone astray”, as well as some more dubious ones who intentionally cross moral and ethical lines. Through these experiences, we will attempt to determine why these scientists are viewed as mad, bad, and evil and examine the complex and inspiring interplay between science fiction and real scientific discovery.
In addition to these topics, this course will serve as an introduction to the academic resources that support student success at UMW. We will practice important foundational skills in research, writing, and speaking that will bolster your success in this course and beyond. You will also learn how to navigate essential processes such as academic advising and course registration, which will ensure you stay on a productive path towards graduation.