Honors - Science and Technology in New York City

In the third Honors College seminar, students will study scientific and technological topics that have had an impact on contemporary New York. The specific topic of each seminar will be chosen based on the scientific expertise of the instructor. Possible topics include technology and the computer, AIDS or other diseases, the environment, and energy. The seminars will address the intellectual roots of the topic as well as its current manifestation in New York City. Attention will be given to the historical, ethical, legal, social, and economic ramifications of the topic. Students will read scientific literature related to their topic and will learn the fundamentals of science necessary to understand their readings. The seminar will engage students in the process of scientific inquiry as they ask and answer questions relevant to the topic and to their lives. In-class work and homework assignments will be enriched by visits to relevant scientific institutions in the city, such as the Museum of Natural History, the Rose Planetarium, and the Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Students will work in teams on a research project, the results of which will be presented in an Honors College symposium at the end of the semester. All classes will come together several times during the semester to hear from distinguished members of the New York scientific community.