SO137 – Science and Society

1.  Course Number:              SO 137                               Credits:  3         Contact hours: 45

 

2.  Course Title:                     Science and Society                           

 

3.  Pre-requisites:                   None

 

4.  Course Description:

Science and its effects on society as a whole. Introduces energy requirements, production, conservation, population growth, disease prevention, world food shortage, conservation of resources, information technology and changing lifestyles, genetic engineering, radiation, chaos theory, etc.

 

5. Learning Outcomes

Upon Successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES	ASSESSMENTS
Discuss energy requirements, production, conservation, population growth, disease prevention, world food shortage, conservation of resources, information technology and changing lifestyles, genetic engineering, radiation, and chaos theory.	Seminar, exam
Report about recent developments in scientific and technological areas	Report
Examine recent developments in scientific and technological areas possible effects on society	Report

6.  Basic Texts:

Title:                Living in the Environment 14^th ed

Authors:          Miller G

Publisher:        Thomson Learning, 2003

ISBN:              0534274110

 

 

7.  Additional Reading and Supplemental Texts:

As assigned by instructor.

Students are encouraged to use the SIU library resources.

 

 

8.  Mode of Delivery:

Classroom instruction. See Addendum for specific details.

9. Course Outline:

• Introduction to scientific methods
• Energy, power production, conservation of resources, future sources of energy
• Radioactivity and nuclear power
• Chaos Theory – a new approach
• The world food shortage.Food production systems.
• Social and biological aspects of food production for urban and rural societies
• Ecological aspects of chemical pollution and radiation hazards
• Risk
• Biotechnology and genetic engineering.Social and environmental aspects
• Materials. The manufacture and uses of ceramics, glasses andcomposites and economic aspects of their production.Laboratorydemonstration of the chemical properties of some selected materials
• Preventive medicine today and population growth
• Conservation of animals, plants, communities and genetic resources
• Computers and information technology – their effects on life-styles
• Excursion
• Seminars
• Revision
• Final Examination

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