CoursesBiology and Society
BIOL 3851

Biology and Society

This course uses a biological foundation to explore general issues at the interface of biology and society. We will use both historical and contemporary reading materials, with an emphasis on the primary scientific literature, to inform discussions on often controversial issues in biology as well as the social responsibility of scientists to respond to these issues.

Tuesdays, 3:30 PM – 6:29 PM

The course will cover how science has shaped social and political opinions on such topics as race, ethnicity, and gender, as well as how society and politics are influenced by and impact science. This course will provide a background and context in which to consider, anticipate, and respond to biology’s present and future ethical and social implications.

Other Courses of Interest

COGS 4001

The Cognitive Science of Conversation

Instructor(s)

  • Nora Bradford

Semester

Spring 2027

What makes a conversation “good”? How do we achieve the feeling of being “on the same page” with an interlocutor? This course explores the neurological and cognitive underpinnings of effective communication, equipping students with the scientific knowledge necessary to foster constructive dialogue. 

 

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BENF 2240

The Crisis of Expertise

Instructor(s)

  • Tal Arbel

Semester

Spring 2027

In recent years, there has been intensive talk about a “crisis of expertise” unfolding in liberal-democratic societies. Along with suspicion toward established facts and institutional findings, techno-scientific experts – academic researchers, medical doctors, engineers, public health specialists – are widely seen as detached elites whose impartiality is questionable, and motivations can no longer be trusted. This concerning shift in public attitudes, the argument goes, has boosted the popularity of unverified and unregulated sources of knowledge (traditional healing practices, the wellness industry, social media influencers, self-tracking), and given rise to a dangerous “do your own research” (DYOR) culture that impedes our collective ability to distinguish sound advice from misinformation.

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