The activities of the Center cluster into three crosscutting themes.
Bioethics, Policy, and Law
The focus of this program is on ethical aspects of the life sciences, including biological, medical, environmental, and social impacts and implications. Issues of politics and policy, law, and justice are central to this exploration. This program works closely with the Center for Law, Science, and Technology, the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes, the Center for Nanotechnology and Society, and the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix Campus, in collaboration with Arizona State University.
Contacts: Jason Robert, jason.robert@asu.edu and Karin Ellison, karin.ellison@asu.edu
Previous Director: Dr. Joan McGregor, July 2003-May 2007
History and Philosophy of Science
Philosophers of science ask what science is and how it works, while historians study how science changes over time. Traditional philosophical issues of metaphysics, epistemology, and history are all important to understanding the context of science. Historians draw on a range of tools from the humanities and social sciences in exploring science in its contexts. The interdisciplinary field of History and Philosophy of Science examines the conceptual foundations of science and the connections of science to society.
Contact: Richard Creath, creath@asu.edu
Communicating Science
Communicating Science is essential in connecting science with society. The Center coordinates diverse approaches to communicating science to broader audiences. We encourage our students to participate in the School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Program (SoLUR), which supports student research and requires students to present their findings in the form of science posters. Our undergraduate majors in Biology and Society write a research prospectus as juniors and report on their research results as seniors, and the Barrett Honors College and the Center for Biology and Society take students to the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting to present posters and engage in discussions on scientific issues at a national level. Medical journalist Ed Sylvester teaches reporting techniques for conveying science and medicine to multiple audiences. Regents’ Professor John Alcock and biologist David Brown teach graduate students to write on science in creative and accessible ways for both scientists and the public, and Regents’ Professor Stephen Pyne teaches a graduate-level course on literary nonfiction, mostly focused on adapting literary techniques to historical and scientific writing (other than memoir). Lastly, visualization expert Charles Kazilek teaches students to present their research effectively in poster form, the scientific standard.
Undergraduate Majors
Biology and Society majors write a research prospectus as juniors and report on their research results as seniors, through the Research Colloquium.
Taking Science to the Public
The School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Program (SoLUR) [http://sols.asu.edu/ugrad/solur/index.php] supports student research and communicating science to others.
Science Reporting
Medical journalist Ed Sylvester teaches reporting techniques for conveying science and medicine to multiple audiences.
Theater and Science; Theater and Medicine
Theater Professor Gitta Honegger introduces students to dramatic interpretations of science and medicine, and explores science and theater.
Writing Science
Regents' Professor John Alcock and biologist David Brown teach graduate students to write science for scientists and for public audiences.
Literary Nonfiction
Regents' Professor Stephen Pyne teaches a graduate-level course on literary nonfiction, mostly focused on adapting literary techniques to historical and scientific writing (other than memoir).
Displaying Science
Visualization expert Charles Kazilek teaches students to present their research effectively in poster form, the scientific standard.
Presenting Science
The Barrett Honors College and the Center for Biology and Society take students to the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting to present posters and serve as student session aides.
Contact Jane Maienschein, maienschein@asu.edu
