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HNRS 2000: Seminar Descriptions Fall 2021

Indigenous Wisdom & Global Perspectives

HNRS 2000, section 1011, Wed 4:30 pm - 5:20 pm 

Instructor: Dr. Wade

We take a critical look at the sometimes-subtle ways in which scientific thought and practice is unconsciously influenced by Western cultural assumptions and hidden biases, and we explore ways of seeing and talking that benefit us by helping us transcend these biases. These ways of seeing include traditional indigenous knowledge, perspectives from other cultures, and insights originating in feminist standpoint theory.

Because of the extent that our culture values science, both as a methodology and as a worldview, it is essential for well-educated citizens to understand its philosophical foundations and hidden assumptions. What we do depends upon what we think; developing awareness of our underlying assumptions and exploring their implications provides us with opportunities to reformulate them in ways that better serve our individual and collective needs. This can be a transformative process.

Scientists, science educators, medical professionals, sociologists, and psychologists will all benefit by learning about the different ways of thinking behind the science. The goal of the course is that students emerge from the course comfortable with the complexities arising from interaction with different worldview and cultures, and an understanding of elements important to members of another culture in relation to its knowledge systems.

Intro to Materials Science in Sports and Sports Equipment

HNRS 2000, section 1012, Thursdays, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm 

Instructor: Dr. Ostrowski

A course for all majors who are interested in sports and science. This course will teach Materials Science through the lens of sports. Students will learn foundational principles and terms from Materials Science that will help them grow their science literacy. We will discuss the cultures of sports and science, and how these overlap or differ. We will examine different sports and sports equipment and how the field of Materials Science has enabled new developments or created controversies. Specific case studies will include the “juiced” baseballs from the 2019 MLB season, allowing athletes with prosthetics to compete at the Olympics, and the problem of supply and demand for new sustainable materials for cricket bats.