| Credits | 1 |
| Restrictions | No 2022 2021 2020 Open to first-years only |
| Pre-Requisites | |
| Co-Requisites | |
| Core Area | Sciences |
| Area of Inquiry | |
| Liberal Arts Practices |
Faculty Profile for Professor Adams
Natural Disasters: Science, Media, and Movies
Natural disasters are part of the normal processes that shape the Earth, but can have dramatic and tragic impacts on human populations around the globe. Many of us, however, only witness these events through news media coverage or movies. This course will (a) introduce the science behind many natural disasters – including earthquakes, asteroid impacts, storms, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis – while (b) also considering how media stories and films present, frame, or incorporate disaster science – and how this representation can impact our perception of natural disasters. Students gain a practical understanding of natural disasters, and learn to critically analyze the representation of science in popular media. NOTE: Attendance is required at movie screenings, in addition to the scheduled class meetings. Students who successfully complete this seminar will receive credit for CORE 176S and satisfy the Scientific Perspective core requirement.
Professor Aubreya Adams is a geologist/geophysicist specializing in earthquakes, volcanos, and the drivers behind plate tectonics. She’s also a big fan of really bad disaster movies.