Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society, An Integrated Course Sequence

This project will develop an interdisciplinary course sequence aiming to satisfy natural and social science general education requirements. Three critical issue science modules and laboratories to be developed are: Global Climate Change, Energy Options for the Future, and Biodiversity Conservation. In addition to a thorough treatment of the science and engineering content of these issues, the course will innovate in content presentation in three explicit ways: (1) Theoretical knowledge will be integrated with labs and simulations for direct issue- investigation by the students. (2) All learning will converge on decision-making activities, including critical evaluations of contemporary news reports. (3) Decisions will be carried forward through exploration of problem solving action opportunities in the campus community, permitting students to use, immediately and in practical ways, what they learn in the course. As a result scientific knowledge will be communicated in a framework that will more effectively motivate especially non-science students and enhance creativity and critical thinking in science and technology. Research will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of these modules and innovative teaching strategies.