Teaching Assistants' Training Program

Shawn Xiong, TATP Sciences Coordinator
Majd Zouda, TATP Social Sciences Trainer

To what extent scientists are responsible to address socio-political issues in their classrooms?

Many science questions are as scientific as they are moral, philosophical, and political. For instance, the rapid progress in gene editing provides the ability for scientists and doctors to fix the human embryo and fetus, this stands for a Nobel-Prize like achievement. However, such scientific breakthrough often brings complex and controversial issues regarding to its advancement, regulation, implementation, and socio-economic and political consequences. To address these issues, we need the active engagement of scientists in the democratic processes of discussing, debating, and challenging the potential injustices.

In this roundtable discussion, we will engage in the following:

• Reflecting on the interdisciplinary connections between sciences and society;
• Examining case studies on socio-scientific issues;
• Sharing possible pedagogical strategies for implantation.

By the end of this workshop, the participants are expected to develop awareness and expertise to incorporate socio-scientific issues in their own teaching.