Scientific Literacy

Catalog description

From COVID-19 to climate change, genetic engineering to artificial intelligence, and exoplanets to human flourishing, we’re living through unprecedented changes in science and technology. But these questions also touch on deep theological, philosophical and existential issues. So how do we understand these questions through a Jewish perspective, Jewish tradition, and Jewish law? How can we better understand and communicate scientific findings, especially if we ourselves are not experts in the field? And how do we talk about science and technology when questions surrounding religion and science are often viewed as hot-button political issues? This course will give you an opportunity to better understand science not as a collection of facts, but as a process of discovery, and how you can share these findings with your community. With guest lecturers from across the scientific world, you’ll gain a firmer grasp on how you can integrate science and scientific knowledge into your Jewish life. This course will fulfill the Science and Judaism requirement.