FroSci told me there would be more feathers

Birds, dinosaurs, and denizens of Columbia College, take note. On Wednesday, November 19, at 7:30 pm in Schermerhorn 501, the co-chairs and members of the Committee for Science in the Core will be hosting an open forum to discuss possible changes to FroSci, or alternatives to the class entirely. Our suggestions for alternatives include: Intro to Expressive Yodeling, The Art of Complaining Loudly, and Haberdashery 101.

Specifically, the committee is considering a seminar-style course similar to CC and LitHum. The committee has also released a report on Science in the Core, detailing the background, approaches, next steps and a timetable for the decision, which states that a pilot program of these seminar-style FroSci sections could begin next fall semester.

As one Bwogger notes, “a faculty member I spoke with vocalized that a number of faculty would rather get rid of FoS, because it’s expensive and students hate it.” Read Deantini’s invitation to the forum and get some names of professors/committee members you can contact with your questions, concerns or emotionally charged FroSci rants.

Dear Students,

I am writing to invite you to a forum to discuss the Core science course. The forum, hosted by the co-chairs and student members of the Committee on Science in the Core, will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m., in 501 Schermerhorn Hall.

As you may know, the Committee on Science in the Core has been meeting since last year to consider possible alternatives to Frontiers of Science. I appointed this committee in the summer of 2013 following a recommendation of the Educational Policy and Planning Committee, which conducted a review of Frontiers of Science during the 2012-2013 year. The Committee on Science in the Core has released a  progress report , which is available on the College website.

In summary, the committee is exploring a new Core course that utilizes a seminar format, similar to Literature Humanities and Contemporary Civilization, and is considering two options. The first is structured by a historical narrative, presenting a range of topics drawn from across the sciences – from the origins of the universe and the planet, to how the elements combined into the building blocks of life, to life from its inception through evolution, to the case of our own species. The second option presents seminal scientific ideas in the context of their initial development and acceptance, using great scientific breakthroughs – the discovery of the basic laws of heredity and of the special theory of relativity, for example – to illustrate and analyze the methods employed in the sciences.

Before pursuing either of these alternatives, the committee is seeking student feedback, as well as feedback from faculty members. I hope you are able to attend the forum to share your ideas. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to get in touch with the committee chairs, Peter deMenocal , Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Philip Kitcher , John Dewey Professor of Philosophy. The student members of the committee are Violet Nieves CC’15 and Ari Schuman CC’15.

Sincerely,

James J. Valentini
Dean of Columbia College and
Vice President for Undergraduate Education

Just as John Oliver encouraged Internet trolls to comment on the FCC website over net neutrality, so too do we encourage you to speak up about FroSci. As Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the Core.”

Feathered friend via Shutterstock