About this course

SCI 200H-H1 Global Warming Spring 2007
Maryville University Bascom Honors Program 4 cr
Jan 18- May 3 Monday & Wednesday 10:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Instructor:

Course Description:
This seminar uses Global Climate Change as a modern case study to explore the interconnections between science and politics. Scientists worldwide agree global climate change is underway at unprecedented rates because of relatively recent human influences on Earth’s atmosphere. What is the science behind global warming? Historically, how did scientists arrive at a consensus that human causes were creating climate change? What global trends are underway already, which are still predicted, and what are the implications for our future?
Course Objectives: As a student you will have the opportunity to:

  1. Develop a more accurate understanding of the science of global climate change including interrelationships between atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, solar output, and human affairs.

  2. Develop an understanding of the nature of science—what makes science different than other disciplines/ other ways of understanding the world—and an awareness of how those representations can shape political and economic debate.
  3. Explore the role of economic, political and social influences on how climate science is represented and understood in the
    U.S., and the implications of this for individual and community action.
  4. Understand how changing technologies can affect what we understand about how the world works (causality; blogs; modeling programs, etc).  Gain skill at critically analyzing sources and claims arising from recent technologies for communication and/or systems modeling and
  5. Connect the science, politics, and economics of global climate change to your daily life.
  6. Increase your skill at representation and facilitation of critical thought (your own and your audience’s) in different media and social settings (blogs, formal writing, formal and informal discussion)

Leave a Comment

Create a free edublog to get your own comment avatar (and more!)

You must be logged in to post a comment.