Course Details

As a future leader, what do you need to know about biology to make informed decisions affecting you and your community? How can you convince legislators and community members that your decisions are based on current science? In this interdisciplinary course, you will learn about paradigm shifting moments in biology, the ideas and actions that caused them, the controversies surrounding them, and the cultural and socioeconomic contexts that molded them. Possible topics include: Evolution, Germ Theory, Vaccines, Antibiotic Resistance, The Central Dogma, Genetic Engineering, Climate Change, The Sixth Extinction, and the Opioid Epidemic.

By learning the science behind these moments, you will better understand biological processes and develop the ability to identify biological patterns. You will also explore these moments in their cultural and socioeconomic contexts, forming connections between science and broader societal issues. As you are a future leader who will work with a wide range of people, scientific jargon will be translated into plain language as often as possible. Eventually, you will practice communicating biology in plain language, so that you can apply these newfound skills to leading your community into an uncertain future while making informed decisions.

Initial exploring of paradigm shifting moments in biology will center on popular science and/or textbook readings. These readings will support in-class, group discussion activities designed to strengthen connections. Assigments that could be incorporated into the Honors portfolio include: short oral presentations (slides and video recordings), class debates (written summary) , press releases, and essays.