Academic Connections is a program run though UC San Diego Extension offering college level courses to high-achieving high school students during a 3-week intensive summer program. This past summer I designed and taught a course to eighteen 9<sup>th</sup>-12<sup>th</sup> grade students titled, Introduction to Science and Technology in Society. The first week focused on such introduction topics as: What is the nature of science? What can we ask of it? How do society and science help shape each other’s future? How is science portrayed in journal articles vs. news broadcasts vs. other online forums? The next two weeks of the course applied these ideas to studying a variety of scientific and/or technological topics and the societal dimensions of each. Some examples include climate change, conservation, nanotechnology, biotechnology, vaccinations, and the semiconductor industry. The class culminated in a final group project, where each group picked a scientific topic of interest and presented a multimedia project on the background of the topic and society’s role now and in the future. Understanding not only how science shapes our everyday lives, but also how societal concerns shape what science is funded is critical for a sustainable future. I envision this class to be continued for non-majors and majors at the university level. The following will be presented: course design, learning outcomes, hands-on and group activities employed, and evidence of class effectiveness.

Introduction to science and technology in society: A class designed for high school students/undergraduates to relate scientific controversies and advancements with societal perceptions

251st National Meeting (2016)

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