Research in Biological Sciences and Its Social Impact

This course extends student experiences in the first-year Kite and Key courses. Students reflect upon, theorize, and integrate the different epistemologies of the humanities, arts, natural sciences, and social sciences. They will experience, and learn to facilitate, inclusive, evidence-informed learning environments that promote student success through dialogue, mentorship, collaboration, active learning, and reflective practice. Topics include: knowledge production in higher education; interdisciplinary and collaborative inquiry; the role and practice of dialogue and active learning strategies; and peer mentoring and advising.

This Capstone will begin by considering recent bioethical literature on the importance of lived experience in both scholarship and public policy debates, as well as the biases that attach to this type of knowledge. The course readings will center on case studies we will pick as a class that are grounded in equally valid, but conflicting, first-person accounts — possible examples include autism, cochlear implants, and physician assisted suicide.