Special topic class on Science and Feminism

Dr. Sambuddha Banerjee, a chemistry instructor, is teaching a special topic in chemistry class this spring on science and feminism. The course situates scientific knowledge, practices, and culture in a historical context, investigating its epistemology. Instead of teaching this as a pedagogy of the oppressed, the intention is to create awareness in the elite-class students about how racism, capitalism, colonialism, and heteropatriarchal nationalism have shaped STEM. However, students from all backgrounds are welcome to enroll. As it is a 5000-level class, students trying to enroll might need an override from Chemistry which can be easily done by emailing Dr. Banerjee or Taylor Harris in the chemistry office.

As a 3-credit special topic class, it can fulfill your elective requirement. There is no formal test for this course. In the past two years, several students after finishing this class have started doing critical research on the readiness of the academy (especially in PWI like ours) in mentoring students from PEER communities (formally called the URM). Several students from this class co-authored an article (A special topic class in chemistry on feminism and science as a tool to disrupt the dysconcious racism in STEM) that just got accepted in the J. Chemical Education.

This is a 5000-level class and can be taken by graduate students as well.