Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description

The uncertainty of science and the science of uncertainty

Instructor(s): Julie Douglas, Mathematics

An exploration of the ways that uncertainty arises in science, how we can accommodate and make use of uncertainty using the tools of probability and statistics, and how can we can reach conclusions in the face of uncertainty. We will explore questions from many fields of science. For example, what does medical science say about the link between vaccines and autism? Can forensic science be used to catch a serial killer? What does data science reveal about our personal prejudices? We will also consider scientific questions from ethical, historical, and philosophical perspectives.

Course Offered:

• Fall 2020