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Professor: Matthew Adamson
Contact information
mhadamson@mcdaniel.hu
Availability
I am usually on campus in Room 226; please make an appointment if you want to be certain to find me
Course Description
What is science? How do we acquire scientific knowledge? Are scientific organizations and conduct unique? How have scientific disciplines formed and changed over the centuries? This course will trace the history of science from the Scientific Revolution to the end of the twentieth century. It will examine both primary texts written by scientists and secondary texts written by historians. The course term paper will ask students to generate a question that deals with a historiographical problem.
Required texts
Michael Frayn, Copenhagen, 2003 edition.
GSC 2210 Class Reader
Handouts during the semester
Assignments & grading
Grading system—100 points total
Assignments
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In-class presentations (23 pts)
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Essays and in-class papers (22 pts)
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Mid-term exam (20 pts)
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Final exam (20 pts)
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In-class participation (15 pts)
Standard McDaniel College scale:
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100+
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A+
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93-100
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A
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90-92
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A-
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88-89
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B+
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83-87
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B
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80-82
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B-
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78-79
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C+
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73-78
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C
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70-72
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C-
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68-69
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D+
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63-67
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D
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60-62
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D-
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< 60
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F
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Class participation
Informed, critical exchange of ideas forms the core of the College learning experience. It should occur in every classroom. This is why in-class participation plays an important role in the final determination of your course grade. You are expected to share ideas during discussions and you are wholeheartedly encouraged to ask questions when you do not understand something. Participation implies attendance; absences will be noted and will adversely affect your final participation grade.
Creation of a proper classroom environment requires above all else respect for fellow students. We all ask that you don' t be late; that you don' t surf the internet on your laptop or otherwise distract everyone else during class; that you turn off your cell phone and that you do not check for messages during class. Likewise, you can expect me to end class on time, to engage you in discussion and debate, and to be respectful of all points of view.
Honor code
You are expected without question to adhere completely to the McDaniel College academic honor code. Any violation will result in a zero for the given assignment and other possible sanctions.
Course policies
You may be absent three times, no questions asked—you need not explain the cause of your absence. Following three unexcused absences, however, you will begin to lose points from your class participation grade, a grade per unexcused absence over the limit. Please note that we meet for two consecutive sessions per week. If you miss them both, that counts as two absences.
Do not be late—a tardy arrival will be counted as half an absence.
Semester schedule/topics covered
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Week 1&2, Tue. September 13
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in class: Introduction: Szilard and a story of science; The Scientific Revolution I
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Week 3: Tue. September 20
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in class: The Scientific Revolution II
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Week 4: Tue. September 27
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in class: Isaac Newton and the problems of biography
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Week 5: Tue. October 4
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in class: The Enlightenment and the Chemical Revolution
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Week 6: Tue. October 11
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in class: Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism, and Science in National Contexts/mid-term review
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Week 7: Tue. October 17
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in class: mid-term exam/Darwin and the Voyage of the Beagle
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Week 8: Tue. October 24
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Fall break, no class
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Week 9: Tue. November 1
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Hungarian public Holiday (All Saints' Day), no class
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Week 10: Tue. November 8
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in class: Evolution and the multiple disciplines of the study of life
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Week 11: Tue. November 15
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in class: Radioactivity, quantum physics & Copenhagen
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Week 12: Tue. November 22
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in class: World War II and Big Science
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Week 13: Tue November 29
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in class: Post-World War II Science, monitoring the globe
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Week 14: Tue December 6
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in class: Post-World War II Science, changing life/final exam review
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Week of December 12
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Final exam—Time to be announced; Term paper due, Wednesday, May 18th
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