Why Trust Science?

Are you curious about how science works and its place in our world? Would you like to learn about conspiracy theories, ‘alt facts’, and about how scandals and controversies have affected our trust in science? If so, this module is for you. This module is open to all students in UCD. It offers an interdisciplinary space where students from across campus can come together to think and learn about the role of science in our society. Using lively classes, debate, and forms of assessment that aid your learning, we’ll explore the complex relationships between science, expertise, policy and trust. We’ll question whether science is more trustworthy than other forms of knowledge and consider how we might build a climate of trust in diverse expertise to tackle the big issues facing our world – things like climate change, biodiversity loss, equity in health care, pandemics, AI, mental health, etc. No previous knowledge of science is required. This module is designed to be accessible to students from across UCD.