This Calderwood Seminar explores the intersection of neuroscience, art, and society, with a strong emphasis on the value of diversity—both diversity in neuroscience research(-ers), and neurodiversity in society—and how to effectively communicate these topics to the public. Assignments will highlight the contributions of diverse scientists and neurodivergent artists, our individual experiences and how those are shaped by our memories, and the neural mechanisms of experiencing art. Students will create public-facing content that makes complex neuroscience accessible to all, through weekly assignments like writing neuroscience-inspired poetry, press releases, and zines. Through these tasks, students will develop their skills in translating scientific knowledge to a lay audience, with creativity and clarity. In keeping with the structure of the Calderwood seminar, weekly deadlines in this class are firm so as to allow classmates time to reflect and comment on each other’s work.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 12

Prerequisites: NEUR 200 or NEUR 202.

Distribution Requirements: ARS - Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video; NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences

Other Categories: CSPW - Calderwood Seminar in Public Writing

Typical Periods Offered: Fall

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall

Notes: