| Course ID: | PHYS-2018-001 |
| Lecture Times: | TR 12:45 p.m. - 2:05 p.m. |
| Lecture Location: | Yoakley Hall, Room 109 |
| Lecturers: | Dr. Donald
Luttermoser, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy Dr. David Harker, Dept. of Philosophy Dr. Robert Gardner, Dept. of Mathematics |
| E-mail Addresses: |
lutter@rmspametsu.edu (delete "rmspam" from
address before sending) harkerd@rmspametsu.edu (delete "rmspam" from address before sending) gardnerr@rmspametsu.edu (delete "rmspam" from address before sending) |
| Office Hours: | by Appointment |
| Textbook: | No Official Textbook is Required (Reading assignments will announced in class) |
| Day | Topics | Lecturer |
|---|---|---|
| August 26 | Introduction | Luttermoser & Harker |
| August 28 | The Real Scientific Method | Harker |
| September 2, 4 | Science & Pseudoscience | Harker |
| September 9, 11 | How to Think about Science | Harker |
| September 16, 18 | Student Projects | --- |
| September 23, 25 | How Do Scientists Study/Explain Change? | Harker & Luttermoser |
| September 30, 2 | Examples of Change: Global Warming | Harker |
| October 7, 9 | Student Projects & Class Debate | --- |
| October 14 | Fall Break | No Class |
| October 16 | Thermodynamics: Equilibrium vs. Nonequilibrium | Luttermoser & Harker |
| October 21, 23 | Entropy and the Arrow of Time | Harker & Luttermoser |
| October 28 | Special Lecture: Two Centuries of Darwin | Dr. Niall Shanks |
| October 30 | Conservation Laws and Change | Luttermoser |
| November 4, 6 | The Mathematics of Geometry | Gardner |
| November 11, 13 | The Expansion of the Universe | Luttermoser |
| November 18, 20 | Galactic & Stellar Evolution | Luttermoser |
| November 25 | Galactic & Stellar Evolution (cont.) | Luttermoser |
| November 27 | Thanksgiving Break | No Class |
| December 2, 4 | Student Projects | --- |
Please consult the ETSU supplemental syllabus attachment for other helpful university information.
Click here to view the web page for this course.
Great Ideas in Science is the first semester of a one-year honors course. GIS endeavors to introduce the student to the interdisciplinary side of science. Every year the "theme" of the course changes and for this 2008/2009 academic year, the theme of this course will be about global changes. This topic is very broad since it can encompass a variety of different sciences, hence this is a good theme to show interdisciplinary science.
For this Fall 2008, we will discuss the concept of change is three broad areas or modules. First, we need to understand science's role in explaining change that is seen in nature. For that, we need to understand the working mechanism of science: the scientific method. From this, we can see what it actually means to be a science and differentiate this from false science or pseudoscience. Then we will delve into the actual meaning of the word change, both the definition as used in science and the public's perception of change. We will use a discussion of global warming as an example of change. The last module for this semester will focus on change on the grandest scale, change on the largest and slowest time scales, change in the Universe as a whole.
This theme of global change will then continue in the Spring 2009 semester in Great Ideas in Science II (PHYS-2028). In that semester, the course will be separated into two main modules: Biological Evolution and Planet Earth Evolution.
We are privileged to have an honored speaker in our class this Fall 2009 semester. Dr. Niall Shanks is the Curtis D. Gridley Distinguished Professor of History and Philosophy of Science in the Department of History at Wichita State University. Dr. Shanks was a faculty member in the Department of Philosophy here at ETSU and was heavily involved with the Honors Program while he was at ETSU. Dr. Shanks lecture topic, Two Centuries of Darwin, given on October 28th, will be very useful as preparation for the Biological Evolution module of PHYS-2028 in the Spring 2009 semester.
Besides the opening day Introduction, you will note there are three main areas (called modules) of learning on the Course Schedule indicated by the ``boxed'' topics. At the conclusion of each module, there will be Student Projects that will be performed by the class and your course grade will be determined by your performance in these projects. The Project Assignments will be outlined near the beginning of the corresponding module. Student Projects can include class debates, or oral and written reports. Dr. Luttermoser will be in charge of assigning course grades to each student, however Dr. Harker will have some input on the grades assigned to those modules for which he participates.
Note that there will be no exams given in this class AND there will be no "extra credit." Extra credit work is the same as "credit" work in this class. As honors students you will be expected to perform at levels above the standard undergraduate student.
As the semester progresses, I will be adding links for the lectures you will be attending on the Course Web Page listed on the first page of this syllabus. I will also post descriptions of what each Student Project will entail once the class decides on a Project. Other useful links will also be posted on this Web Page as well.
There will be no official textbook associated with this course. However, you will be asked to read (and purchase if necessary) supplemental books throughout the semester. For the first module, Dr. Harker would like you to purchase and read " The Republican War on Science" by Chris Mooney. All students will be required to read this book by September 4, 2008.
From time to time, we may have to meet at times outside of class to watch an interesting video or movie, or perhaps go on a field trip. As the semester progresses, such activities will be announced a few weeks ahead of time. I'll keep you posted.
Each of the four Student Projects will be equally weighted in the calculation of your course grade. I will be assigning a numeric score (100 points maximum) for each project for each student. The Final Course Score is based upon the following formula:
The Final Course Grades is based upon the Final Course Score with the following scale:
| A | = | 92% or better | B- | = | 80-81.9% | D+ | = | 68-69.9% | ||
| A- | = | 90-91.9% | C+ | = | 78-79.9% | D | = | 60-67.9% | ||
| B+ | = | 88-89.9% | C | = | 72-77.9% | F | = | Less than 60% | ||
| B | = | 82-87.9% | C- | = | 70-71.9% |
Note that a failing grade also will be given if the student has engaged in any form of academic dishonesty. IMPORTANT NOTE: Turn your cell phones off before coming into class!