Leah Olson and Karen Rader
Biology 
Science Technology and Society
Spring: Open	  

   How do we define the boundaries between human and nonhuman animals? Do animals think? Do animals have feelings? How do our 
   Western conceptions of the boundaries that distinguish humans from animals shape our scientific assumptions about the differences, 
   for example, between human and animal minds and inform the uses we make of animal lives? How, in turn, might our uses of animal 
   bodies impact how we think about animal agency and involvement more broadly in the human sphere? In this course we will explore 
   newly emerging findings from the field of animal cognition that are challenging our historical concept of animals as machines.  We will 
   also look at how human-animal relationships are imagined and investigated in different scientific, medical, and social settings. Using a    
   wide range of historical, sociological, and scientific sources, we will examine how we make boundaries between humans and nonhumans 
   and how those boundaries affect the social and political decisions that define our culture.

	Open to any interested student.
     

COURSE REQUIREMENTS-- Evaluation of your work will be based on the following:

1.      Participation in the seminar, including regular and timely class and conference attendance, as well as contributions to discussions.  BOTH CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE AND CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE are MANDATORY – absences will be considered particularly serious infractions, and missing more than one class or conference could result in lost credit and/or a reduction in grade.  Except in cases if illness, emergency, or a FULL 24 Hours notice, there will be no rescheduled conferences.

2.      Writing assignments.  These will include two 4-5 page class essays, due February 12 and **(choice of assigned topics TBA in seminar about ten days before due dates), as well as several shorter, more informal writing assignments over the course of the semester (dues dates and topics for these will be announced in class). 

3.      Making two group presentations (details to follow in class and on the web page)

4.      Completing a conference project [including a prospectus -- for details, see web page link] by Friday May 10^th  and presenting this work to the seminar the following week

5.      Turning in a class worksheet, due in my office by the last day of classes.