Fall Course: Public Engagement with Science

Surely it is important for everyone to know about science! This claim is at the center of much work in science education and science communication. The rhetoric of “science literacy” and “public understanding of science” is so familiar that we unthinkingly accept it as true. This interdisciplinary course begins with a challenge to conventional wisdom. Does everyone really need to know about science? If so, what do they need to know – and what should we do to help them? Through research, theory, and concrete examples (often drawn from our own experience) we will explore what it means for science to matter in everyday life. Along the way, we will open the door to bigger questions about the meaning of science, understanding, and public.

For info, contact Noah Feinstein at nfeinstein@wisc.edu