Science, Humanity and Catastrophe: Scientific Discovery in Germany

Catalog description

The 20th century was a time of great scientific advancement - advancements that were used both for good and for evil (and for other purposes that lie somewhere in between). Germany and German-speaking scientists played central roles in many of these discoveries. In this course we will take an interdisciplinary approach to discussing key scientific advancements, including the discovery of nuclear fission and the development of the nuclear bomb, the discovery of polymers and the invention of pain medicines such as morphine and oxycodone, learning about the science behind these discoveries alongside the social and historical contexts in which they occurred, and the impact these discoveries had on society. While a majority of the scientific discoveries that we will focus on took place in the first half of the 20th century, we will also discuss the ways in which the long-term consequences of these discoveries are still relevant today, especially as they relate to current issues on sustainability (e.g., the use of plastics) and the ethical considerations that arise more generally when thinking about the relationship between science, technology, engineering and society.