BME1120

Human affairs: Health, environment and sexual difference ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Mr Nic Dolby (School of Geography and Environmental Science)

Offered:
Clayton Second semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis: Health, environment and disease and how different interpretations of them affect our understanding of sexual difference and its biological and psychological manifestations. The interaction of physical and socio-cultural environments with genetic factors in the expression, causation and treatment of disease and aging and in the evolution of family and mating patterns. Issues including the form of sexual expression that is normal and whether the brain has a sex and whether science is inherently male.

Objectives: On completion of this unit, a student should have acquired: 1. an understanding of historical and cross-cultural views of health, illness and sexual difference; 2. knowledge of biological, psychological, lifestyle and environmental factors in the expression, causation and treatment of genetic, infectious and degenerative disease and of ageing; 3. an understanding of different approaches to the creation of knowledge including those used in scientific, historical and social contexts. Students will also understand the concept of paradigm change; 4. the capacity to reflect critically on the epistemology and finding of different disciplines; 5. the capacity to develop and understand multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving using scientific principles and practices and those developed in the humanities and social sciences; 6. skills in presenting ideas both collaboratively in projects and adversarially through debates; 7. skills in observation and investigation, and in understanding scientific experimentation and the social and practical implications of scientific findings; and 8. skills in writing both reports and essays.

Assessment: Group project: 30% + Essay: 30% + Written Examination: 40%

Contact Hours: One 2 Hour lecture and up to 3 hours of workshop and practicals per week