Science in Society

[langara]

Has anyone past or present done Open University
SXN390 course.
My daughter needs a current unresolved topic than can be debated for her last project. 10 month old baby and 4 months pregnant and brain turned to custard, she has done so well, and now in last year. Any help appreciated.

[Cheeris]

I am not familiar with that course but I have done a History of Science course at university. If you are simply after current topics where science impacts on society then may I (possibly naively) suggest the following

- 'Darwinism vs Creationism'. i.e. the current debates going on how science impacts on religious beliefs, Intelligent Design and the way we view our place in the universe.

- 'Science Playing God'. Is it morally right or sustainable for scientists to tamper with the basic building blocks of life such as genes or stem cells, even if there is a clear potential benefit to society.

- 'Controlling or nurturing the Environment'. Given that human civilisation inevitably has an adverse effect on the environment ishould we limit our impact through the use technology (e.g green fuels, recycling etc) or through moving back toward a less demanding form of society (less air/car travel, use of local food sources etc)

This is just off the top of my head, so sorry if they are bit useless!

[langara]

Many thanks for your interest Cheeris. I have forwarded it on to my daughter.