180-Minute Symposium

180-024

College Science Courses: Remembering C.P. Snow

Session Start/End Time:

Monday, Feb 16, 2009, 9:30 AM -12:30 PM

HRC Columbus EF

The 50th anniversary of C.P. Snow’s famous Cambridge lecture on the two cultures occurs in 2009. In recognition of that event, this symposium will refocus attention on the critical role of college science courses in fostering an understanding and an appreciation of science among all college students, especially those who will not become professional scientists. A recent cross-national study has shown that the United States ranks second in the world in adult scientific literacy and that exposure to college science courses is the strongest predictor of civic scientific literacy in the United States. Speakers will discuss the continuing importance of C.P. Snow’s observations about the two cultures and the need to attain mutual understanding; an analysis of cross-national evidence demonstrating the critical role played in college science courses in sustaining scientific literacy in the United States; the rationale and success of the University of Chicago’s core curriculum in creating a broad liberal understanding of science and the humanities; and the opportunities and challenges to present effective science courses for non-science majors in a large state university.

Organized by:

Jon D Miller, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI;Leon M Lederman, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL

Presentations:

  Symposium Organizer--Jon D. Miller, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  Symposium Co-Organizer--Leon M. Lederman, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL

  Moderator--Shirley Malcom, AAAS Education and Human Resources, Washington, DC

  Science as a Critical Introduction to Culture and Society in the 21st Century--Leon M. Lederman, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL

  The Evidence of the Impact of College Science Courses--Jon D. Miller, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  Teaching Science as a Core Curriculum--Robert J. Zimmer, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  Teaching Science in a Large Public University--Jo Handelsman, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

  Discussant--Linda L. Slakey, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA

  Discussant--Jay B. Labov, National Research Council, Washington, DC