What is science? How is scientific knowledge obtained, and how is it different from non-scientific knowledge? How does technology arise from science? And how do science and technology benefit, improve, and challenge New York? In this class, students will explore and answer these questions by examining scientific texts aimed at general audiences, studying examples of professional scientific research, conducting original collaborative scientific research projects, writing up those projects in a scientific framework, and presenting those projects at a cross-campus symposium. Emphasis will be placed on self-critique and initiative, small group teamwork, and both individual and collaborative original thinking.

Sophia Perdikaris is an archaeologist specializing in the analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. She has been excavating in Norway for the last twelve years, in Iceland for seven years, and in Barbuda for five years and takes students with her in the field, to both Iceland and Barbuda. Her particular research interests are in historical ecology and global climate change. Her most recent project, "Islands of Change" focuses on the three tiered approach defined by NABO (North Atlantic Biocultural Organization - www.nabohome.org) where scientific data are used to investigate how humans change the environment, how the environment affects human decision making, and in cross cultural interactions. Her early work concentrated on the transition from the Viking Age to medieval times in North Norway and how the early commercialization of the cod fisheries (AD 1200) affected the people and the economy of the area. She is currently involved in cooperative projects with institutions in the U.S. and the U.K. , Iceland, Greenland, Faroes, Canada and Barbuda.

Sophiap@brooklyn.cuny.edu

CHC 3 | Offered by Brooklyn College

Topics to be explored include: myths and facts of climate change with emphasis on global warming; basic atmospheric science and climate modeling; exploration of the nature of scientific knowledge; relationships between scientific knowledge and social and cultural values; contributions that the social sciences and humanities can make to public debates on climate change. This course will have an international, interdisciplinary approach with guest speakers, video conferencing, a think tank retreat, and a conference. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, this course should appeal to students in many disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. (Not open to students who are enrolled in or have completed Brooklyn College Core Curriculum Upper Tier 30.02.)

Sophia Perdikaris is an archaeologist specializing in the analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. She has been excavating in Norway for the last twelve years, in Iceland for seven years, and in Barbuda for five years and takes students with her in the field, to both Iceland and Barbuda. Her particular research interests are in historical ecology and global climate change. Her most recent project, "Islands of Change" focuses on the three tiered approach defined by NABO (North Atlantic Biocultural Organization - www.nabohome.org) where scientific data are used to investigate how humans change the environment, how the environment affects human decision making, and in cross cultural interactions. Her early work concentrated on the transition from the Viking Age to medieval times in North Norway and how the early commercialization of the cod fisheries (AD 1200) affected the people and the economy of the area. She is currently involved in cooperative projects with institutions in the U.S. and the U.K. , Iceland, Greenland, Faroes, Canada and Barbuda.

Sophiap@brooklyn.cuny.edu

code: 3964 | CC 30.09 | Offered by Brooklyn College

The Doomsday Clock

The History Channel opened 2009 featuring Armageddon Week, with such shows as "The 7 Signs of the Apocalypse" and "Nostradamus: 2012." Apocalyptic destruction has long been a mainstay of Hollywood, and, as the History Channel indicates, television has increasingly joined this trend. A significant number of works of American literature also reflect fascination with the idea of an end to the world - or the world as we know it. Most often, the threat of apocalypse serves as a warning about the immorality of American life. The Left Behind series, for example, charts a Fundamentalist Christian view of the Endtime, from the Rapture to the Tribulation. From a secular stance, some American apocalyptic literature uses the threat of doomsday to launch an ironic critique of American gullibility and superficiality. But why has American culture been so receptive to doomsday belief?

In this course, we will explore the antecedents of contemporary American doomsday belief in order to grasp the history, structure, imagery, and drama of apocalyptic narrative and to analyze its effects on individuals and societies. By learning to recognize its narrative logic as manifest variously in religious, literary, and cinematic texts, we will gain an understanding of the ways in which apocalypse shapes everyday perceptions in our own time. Readings include Jonathan Kirsch's A History of the End of the World, selected chapters from Charles Strozier's psychological study Apocalypse, John of Patmos' "Book of Revelation," Michael Wigglesworth's "The Day of Doom," Herman Melville's The Confidence Man, Nathanael West's The Day of the Locust, Rick Moody's The Albertine Notes, one of the Left Behind novels, and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. We will also view and discuss films such as The Day of the Locust, Jesus Camp, and Southland Tales.

Lee Quinby is the Macaulay Visiting Professor for 2007-10. An interdisciplinary scholar and author or editor of six books and numerous articles on subjects ranging from issues of sexuality, technology, and power to doomsday scenarios in history and popular culture, she has been the Distinguished Chair on the Millenium at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the Harter Chair at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and the Zicklin Chair in the Honors Academy at Brooklyn College.

Lee.Quinby@mhc.cuny.edu

English 79.7 | Offered by Brooklyn College

This two-semester course provides an opportunity for in-depth research and analysis of a topic that stirs your curiosity and motivates your desire to share what you learn about it with others. Our weekly meetings are geared toward fostering intellectual community as well as cultivating skills in writing and techniques of inquiry.

Over the course of both semesters, you will meet in consultation with a faculty advisor in your research field. Much of your work will be done individually as you gather sources and data about your topic. As a class, we will meet to brainstorm about topics, focus and refine ideas, and offer advice on research, revision, and reorganization.

During the second semester, each student will present an in-progress oral report to the class and will also submit proposals to the Conference sponsored by NCUR. At the end of the spring term, students will present their findings in formal presentation for the Conference held at Macaulay Honors College. Students should invite their advisors to attend their oral report and the Macaulay Conference.

The required textbook will be the third edition of Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research (University of Chicago Press, 2008).

Note: This course is especially suited for students whose majors or programs do not provide an intensive research experience leading to a capstone project.

Lee Quinby is the Macaulay Visiting Professor for 2007-10. An interdisciplinary scholar and author or editor of six books and numerous articles on subjects ranging from issues of sexuality, technology, and power to doomsday scenarios in history and popular culture, she has been the Distinguished Chair on the Millenium at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the Harter Chair at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and the Zicklin Chair in the Honors Academy at Brooklyn College.

Lee.Quinby@mhc.cuny.edu

SCP 85 | Offered by Brooklyn College

What is a story? How do we tell one? Are there ways in which we can hook our readers or listeners or watchers into wanting to stay with our narrative? How do we give our story that sense of needing to be experienced? How can we keep our audience on board?

This special workshop in fiction writing will be taught by Joseph O'Connor, the author of six novels, including Star of the Sea and Redemption Falls, two collections of short stories, four works of non-fiction, and several radio and stage plays. He is also a frequent columnist and reviewer.

roslyn.bernstein@baruch.cuny.edu

JRN | ENG 3610 | SY3 JRN | ENG3610H SY3H | Offered by Baruch College

The modern civil rights movement, perhaps the most important social protest movement of the twentieth century, eradicated the American Apartheid system known as Jim Crow and catalyzed the passage of some of the most important laws in twentieth-century America. While prominent figures were important in shaping the civil rights struggles, the movement was also influenced by countless numbers of ordinary men and women whose names shall never be recorded in history books. This course examines the social roots and origins of the civil rights and black power movements and their relationship with broader and concurrent political and social developments in American society as a whole.

IDC 4050H | KM13H | Code 1279 | Offered by Baruch College

This course examines the development of American popular music through the prism of history. It focuses on both stylistic developments and the historical context in which music such as the blues, folk, soul, rock, disco, punk, alternative rock and rap evolved in the second half of the 20th century. The connection between popular styles and the changing notions of race, gender and social class as well as the impact music has had on American social and political history will be explored.

IDC 4050H | TV24H | Code 1280 | Offered by Baruch College

Controversies about international migration dominate the headlines every day: securing borders and protecting citizens from threats of terror and unemployment come into conflict with making jobs available to anyone willing to do them, even if the pay and working conditions are poor. Although women are often marginalized in discussions about migration, women's labor--often dangerous and demeaning--keeps their families afloat. Drawing on a variety of texts, including films, literature, cultural studies, and social science, we will study the issues that surround women's global migration.

IDC 4050H | XZ24H | Code 1281 | Offered by Baruch College