Odyssey
Program focuses on critical thinking, science
By
Allison Eaton
On-line Forty-Niner
"The
Voyage of Discovery" is the 2003-04
school year's theme for the university's
Odyssey Theme Year Program. "Science
and the Media" and "Big Bang to
Modern Politics" are the course topics
for the fall and spring semesters, respectively.
Maureen
McMahon, associate professor and chairwoman
of the science education department, is
instructing the "Science and the Media"
course, is looking forward an exciting semester
in which she hopes students will raise their
awareness of the media's control of the
flow of science information.
"The
goal of this class is to raise [students']
interest as well as increase their knowledge
base within current science issues,"
McMahon said. "But, we also want them
to become critical consumers of the media."
As
with past Odyssey courses, critical thinking
is key. Students will be engaging in critical
discussing in which they will be able to
express their opinions as well as learn
about others' viewpoints regarding contemporary
science issues. The specific issues McMahon's
class will focus on include genetically
modified food, infectious diseases, nuclear
energy and space exploration.
Highlights
of the events scheduled to take place this
semester, which will be incorporated into
the class include the 50th anniversary of
the discovery of the structure of DNA and
the return of Hunter "Patch" Adams,
M.D., who will be speaking on Oct. 29 in
the University Student Union Beach Auditorium,
co-sponsored by Associated Students Inc.
Rachel
Brophy, student programs coordinator in
the office of Academic Projects, said that
although the Odyssey class fulfills the
B-3 upper division interdisciplinary requirement,
only 30 students are currently enrolled
in "Science and the Media."
Last
year's theme, "The World We are Making,"
yielded a very popular response to the Expressive
Art & Cultural Responsibility and Globalization
classes offered, contrasting this year's
drop in enrollment. Dr. McMahon said this
might be due to the late start in planning
for this year's program. Also, she aided
in advertising the UNIV 300I class at only
one SOAR session, and feels this might also
have been a factor.
"Students
are usually more responsive when the instructor
is the one advertising a class," she
said.
Sharon
Olson, the project director, said the second
section will be opened if interested students
would like to add the class.
The
Odyssey Theme Year Project began in 1996
and, according to the project's Web site,
was named after Homer's hero Odysseus in
the classic novel, "The Odyssey."
The journey students will embark upon is
much like that of the mythological hero's
voyage of discovery and adventure.
Brophy
said themes are chosen annually by the Odyssey
subcommittee, a group of faculty, alumni
and select community members focusing on
contemporary social issues within our society.
All
Odyssey events are open to anyone who would
like to attend -- students, faculty and
members of the community are welcome to
take advantage of the opportunities to engage
in intellectual learning experiences via
the project-sponsored live performances,
conferences, major guest speakers, films,
field trips and classes on campus and within
the community.
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