Courses
Fall 2007 Dean’s Scholars Honors Program Seminars
Patterns of Discovery
The Intelligent Design Movement
The Science and Biology of Human Relationships
Artificial Intelligence
Current Experiments in Physics
Pop Culture Science
Seminar for First-Year Dean's Scholars
Thesis Preparation
Speaking Seminar(s)
Patterns of Discovery: How Science is Done
Unique Number: 50435
Instructor: William Beckner
Day/Time: Tuesdays 2:00-3:00 pm
Location: WAG 208
This seminar will explore the process by which ordinary science advances -- the moment at which a hypothesis begins to form or the intuitive grasp of a possibility suddenly appears. We will focus on a few intriguing examples that include the Hubble expansion, Darwin's finches, the genetic code and the current search for dark matter in the universe.
The Intelligent Design Movement
Unique Number: 50415
Instructor: Arturo De Lozanne
Day/Time: Wednesdays 10:00-11:00 am
Location: WCH 1.110
What is intelligent design? Does it have any scientific basis? What are the social and political roots of this movement? We will read and discuss several papers and issues surrounding this movement.
The Science and Biology of Human Relationships
Unique Number: 50420
Instructor: Timothy Loving
Day/Time: Wednesdays 1:00-2:00 pm
Location: WCH 1.110
This discussion-based seminar will introduce students to the methods and findings of recent empirical research that contributes to our understanding of how personal relationships and biological processes interact. Each week students will read one assigned article and prepare a discussion question based on the reading.
Artificial Intelligence
Unique Number: 50440
Instructor: David Laude
Day/Time: Wednesdays 2:00-3:00 pm
Location: WCH 1.110
This seminar focuses on "The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology," by Ray Kurzweil, and is a look at the future co-mingling of artificial intelligence and the human brain. Students will read the book and be responsible for making chapter presentations.
Current Experiments in Physics
Unique Number: 50410
Instructor: Greg Sitz
Day/Time: Thursdays 9:00-10:00 am
Location: WCH 1.110
We will look at roughly half a dozen experiments in progress, read a couple of papers (one general Scientific American level and one or more original literature level), and spend a couple of weeks on each topic. Issues to be covered include: what is to be learned, chances for success, time frame, where it fits in. Several of these experiments (or similar ones) involve UT faculty and I will try and convince my colleagues to join the seminar for the discussion period.
Pop Culture Science: Is Hollywood Rotting our Brains?
Unique Number: 50445
Instructor: Jeffrey Gross
Day/Time: Thursdays 2:00-3:00 pm
Location: WAG 208
For many Americans, film, television, magazines and/or books provide the only significant exposure to scientific advances. Biology, physics and chemistry can be complex and abstract subjects for anyone to understand and misconceptions often result from scientists not making their fields accessible to the laymen. Does pop culture media accurately convey science or, with its creative license, does it give an unrealistic view of what is really possible? We will examine the science depicted in the media and discuss how much reality there is in these depictions or if Hollywood is in fact rotting our brains.
Seminar for First-Year Dean's Scholars
Unique Number: 50455
Instructor: Alan Kaylor Cline (Director of Dean's Scholars Honors)
Day/Time: Thursdays 3:30-5:00 pm
Location: Mezes BO.306
All first-year Deans Scholars should enroll in this seminar.
Unique Number: 50425
Instructor: Shelley Payne
Day/Time: Mondays 2:00 3:00 pm
Location: GEA 114
Seminar Description: This seminar is designed for students who will graduate in the next year and will help them write their DS honors thesis.
Unique Number: 50450
Instructor: Brent Iverson
Day/Time: Mondays 3:00-4:00 pm
Location: WCH 1.108
Seminar Description: A speaking seminar course. One of the most important skills a scientist can have is the ability to communicate effectively. Most of the key decisions that influence the launching and advancement of a scientific career will be based in large part on a presentation of some sort. That includes hiring, tenure decisions, promotions within companies, etc. This seminar will give you the basics on how to design and deliver strong presentations in which you establish your own scientific credibility, and leave the audience something they will remember.
Speaking Seminar
Unique Number: 50430
Instructor: Chris Bell
Day/Time: Tuesdays 3:00-4:00 pm
Location: RLM 5.112
This Speaking Seminar will have no thematic topic; each student will choose topic(s) of interest to them for presentation(s). We will decide as a group on the preferred format and structure.
