Faculty First Year Seminars 197EHS1 - Misinformation in the Media: a

This course explores the errors, inaccuracies, and appropriate portrayals of common principles of environmental health science. Major films such as Erin Brockovich, The Day After Tomorrow, and Outbreak are popular movies that were based on how science and environment interacts with human health. This course takes a critical approach to how these topics are conveyed to an audience, explores the scientific principles and relevancy involved in environmental health topics, and evaluates proactive approaches we may take to ensure a complete understanding of environmental health topics in the mass media. The focus of learning is not on artistic license; rather it is centered ensuring students employ critical thought and skepticism in what they see in popular media. The course would cover one movie every two weeks (viewed outside of classroom, provided electronically at no cost), with meeting times including explanation of basic scientific principles, critical evaluation of how the science is presented, and how (or if) this differs from reality.

Freshmen Only