Science Everyone Needs to Know

Dates: January 30 - March 6, 2025
Meets: Th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Location: Osher Online
Cost:  $75.00

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Date Day Time
01/30/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
02/06/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
02/13/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
02/20/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
02/27/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
03/06/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM

Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2024-2025 OLLI at MSU Membership

Description

This program will not be recorded.

Evolution. Vaccines. Global Warming. Regardless of one's choice of news media, navigating today's information-heavy world is nearly impossible without coming across stories on evolution, vaccines and global warming. Each topic is the subject of various conspiracy theories and misinformation campaigns. How do we understand what we hear on the news when so much information comes from unvetted and non-neutral sources, such as the Internet and the media? This course is a non-technical introduction to these three critical matters in modern science. We will examine what scientists know, how they know what they know, how certain they are, and why there is such a disconnect between scientific understanding and the public's perception of the science.

About the Osher Online Program

Osher Online programs are provided to OLLI at MSU from the Osher National Resource Center at Northwestern University. Experience shared online presentations with OLLI members from coast to coast! As part of the Osher Online program, OLLI at MSU members will enjoy national speakers and interact with fellow OLLI members nationwide.

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.

Meet the Instructor

Fee:  $75.00

Osher Online

This is a real-time (live) online class that meets at the specified day(s)/time(s) listed.

Kjir Hendrickson

Kjir Hendrickson is a teaching professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University. They hold a Ph.D. in chemistry and authored the textbook "Chemistry in the World." As an erstwhile quantum chemist, their academic work focuses on science communication, the reciprocal relationship between science and society, workplace climate matters, and DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion and justice) in STEM. Hendrickson is an associate researcher with the ADVANCEGeo Partnership and is pursuing research on functional scientific literacy in partnership with OLLI at ASU.
Date Day Time Location
01/30/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
02/06/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
02/13/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
02/20/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
02/27/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
03/06/2025Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online