An innovative science course for non-science majors will be developed in a collaborative effort involving Columbia College, Indiana University and Princeton University. The course will use topics in environmental science to communicate basic scientific concepts in a relevant and meaningful way. For example, the topic of nuclear power will provide a vehicle for teaching atomic structure, chemical bonds, radioactivity, fission and fusion. Environmental issues offer an excellent way to introduce the major scientific disciplines because so many of them have important physical, geological, chemical and biological dimensions as well as others involving engineering, economics, political science and psychology. The course will have an interdisciplinary approach; learning will be facilitated by having the students incorporate the skills of their major field of study in course projects, such as video tapes, magazine articles, theater scripts, paintings, posters and sculptures. Dissemination will be accomplished with workshops and video tapes as well as printed material and meeting presentations. There is significant institutional support for this project.
