Ways of Knowing Biology
Discussion Leaders and Topics - Past Years
Everyday we are bombarded with more issues and information about advances in Biology. It is very hard to look at all the new things that are happening and decide how we feel about them... and, even more important in some ways, what we feel ought to be done about them. Many people feel very strongly about such topics as the use of human embryonic stem cells, evolution, genetically modified food, and global warming - to name only a few topics. As educated people, and especially as biologists, you will be asked how you feel about these issues. The Discussion sessions for Ways of Knowing Biology will give you a start on thinking about this. You will be encouraged to share your opinion with your classmates and to listen while they explain their points of view. An important goal of these Discussions is for you to develop your own feelings and learn how to express them intelligently to others.
•Discussion Goals
- Explain your position so that others can understand why you feel that way
- Listen to other students so that you can understand why you feel as you do
- Understand the difference between knowledge and belief
- Learn that you need to understand science in order to talk sensibly about problems that science is involved in
(Note: data is not available for 1994 and 1998. Please send comments to WoKBio@mhub.facstaff.wisc.edu)
Past Discussion Leaders
Faculty member |
Department |
Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lynn Allen-Hoffman | Pathology & Laboratory Medicine | 1997 |
| John Andrews | Plant Pathology | 1993 |
| Jeff Baylis | Zoology | 1993, 1995 |
| Bill Bement | Zoology | 1999 |
| Gary Borisy | Molecular Biology and Zoology | 1993, 1995 |
| Janet Branchaw | Center for Biology Education | 2002 |
| Jan Cheetham | Center for Biology Education | 2000 |
| Judith Croxdale | Botany | 1997 |
| Juana Diez | Molecular Virology | 1997 |
| Diana Downs | Bacteriology | 1999 |
| Steve Ingham | Food Sciences | 2002 |
| Tom German | Plant Pathology | 2001 |
| Tony Ives | Zoology | 1997 |
| Tom Jeffries | Bacteriology and Environmental Studies | 2002 |
| Peter Lipton | Physiology | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| William Lytton | Anatomy | 1993 |
| Kerridwen McNamara | Center for Biology Education | 2001 |
| Lorraine Meisner | Medical Sciences | 2001, 2002 |
| Albee Messing | Pathobiological Sciences | 1999, 2000 |
| Lynn Nyhart | History of Science | 1993, 1995 |
| Thomas Osborn | Agronomy | 1993 |
| Donna Paulnock | Med Micro and Immunology | 1993, 1995 |
| Robert Pearce | Anesthesiology & Anatomy | 1993 |
| Gary Roberts | Bacteriology | 1997 |
| Don Schalch | Endocrinology | 1996 |
| Philipp Simon | Horticulture | 1993, 1996 |
| Mike Strand | Entomology | 1999 |
| Millard Susman | Genetics and Center for Biology Education | 2000, 2001 |
| Eric Triplett | Agronomy | 1996 |
| Tim Yoshino | Pathobiological Sciences | 1999, 2000 |
| Julie Zilles | Bacteriology | 1997 |
| Tom Zinnen | Biotechnology Center and Extension | 2002 |
PAST Discussion Topics
Discussion topic |
Year |
| Bioweapons: What role do biologists play? | 2002 |
| Cloning: Should we do it? | 2002 |
| Genetically modified foods:safe or not? | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| What are the costs of new treatments for disease? | 2001 |
| What should we know about our own genomes? | 2001 |
| How does modern medicine affect the course of human evolution? | 2000, 2001 |
| Why is teaching evolution so controversial? | 2000 |
| Should the federal government fund stem cell research? | 2000 |
| What kinds of questions do biologists ask? | 1999 |
| Interview questions for Research Explorations | 1999 |
| Ways of knowing in research explorations | 1999 |
| Science and journalism | 1998 |
| The scientific process | 1998 |
Contact
- Course Coordinator
- Brian Asen
- 118D Genetics Building
- beasen@wisc.edu
- (608) 262-5267