Debating Politics and Science

University of Michigan (Fall, 2011) – Scientific issues have often formed the basis for political debates.  But translating science into public policy can be a messy business.  As journalists, policy makers, and citizens encounter scientific research, well-established findings are often a matter for contentious political opposition and conflicted public opinion — witness climate change.  At other times, scientific findings enter popular parlance, and we often make broad policy decisions without fully understanding the consequences.  This course explores how we move from data to rhetoric and beyond.