Situated as we are in a region that is a worldwide center for information technology and biotechnology, famous for its viticulture and world class eateries, and with a science center and observatory just a few miles up the hill, we should be able to field an enticing array of "the science of X" courses and develop a campus culture that would ensure high enrollments in same. Existing courses in ornithology and botany are a great start, but we could branch out and ensure that the humanists, artists, and social scientists that we graduate have the multiple exposures to science necessary to be a responsible citizen in the 21st century.
We can imagine a line up that might include courses like:
- Astronomy for Everyone (in conjunction with Chabot)
- The Biology and Chemistry of Wine (with trips to Napa & Sonoma)
- Modern Physics for Poets
- The Science of Cooking (Harold McGee as one of the textbooks, a cooking class in the bargain, maybe trip to a fine eatery)
- Biotechnology for Beginners
- Climate Change for 21st Century Citizens
- Computers and Society
- Mathematical Excursions : From Pythagoras to Fermat's Last Theorem
- The Mathematics of Society : Introduction Game Theory
- The Mathematics of Society : Voting, Choice, and Probability
- Urban Forestry
- The Bridges, Boats, and Tunnels of the Bay Area (math, engineering, and the built environment)
Taught by engaging faculty who can have fun at the same time as they convey information and skills to students not otherwise engaged in the study of science.
