FYS 1064 - Monsters, Freaks and Outcasts

Hours: 4
Common preconceptions about science and scientists are ingrained within us; from Frankenstein to Dexter’s Laboratory we are presented with very specific ideas about who a scientist is. In this course we will explore our expectations of what a scientist is, their identity, behavior, and motivations. We will work to answer questions such as: Are there really mad scientists? What are women in science really like? Why do we think of Albert Einstein when asked to picture a famous scientist? We will examine common archetypes in books, television, and movies and compare these to real life examples. We will discuss the changing identity of scientists through history, efforts to introduce diversity into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, and examples of minorities (race and gender) in science. In addition to learning about the true identity of scientists through these “big picture” discussions we will learn about specific scientists and their contributions to science. Throughout the course we will reflect on the impact of our perceptions and preconceived notions at the individual level to the global scale.

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FYS 1064 - Monsters, Freaks and Outcasts