99-226 Rachel Carson: Her Work and Legacy
Mini 4, 6 units (March 20 to May 5)
Time: 6:30-7:50 PM, Tuesday and Thursday
Instructor: Eden Fisher (edenf@andrew.cmu.edu)
For questions, please contact Dr. Fisher
On December 6, 2005, the Allegheny County Council voted unanimously to name Pittsburgh’s 9th Street Bridge for Springdale native Rachel Carson (1907-1964). Carson, born nearly a century ago into a Western Pennsylvania family of modest means, is widely known as "the mother of the environmental movement." Her most famous book, Silent Spring, has been honored as one of the most important innovations of the 20th Century. Yet, honoring Carson is not without controversy; Silent Spring has also been described as one of the most harmful books of the 20th century. Why are reactions to her work so polarized, more than forty years after her death?
The goal of this course is to introduce students of all disciplines to Rachel Carson and her writings, and to heighten awareness of the enormous influence she has had on the way human interaction with the environment is viewed and addressed by a wide range of stakeholders across the globe.
Through this course, students will:
* Learn about the significant influences in the life of Rachel Carson, a daughter of Western Pennsylvania who became known around the globe as a scientist, author and advocate for nature
* Study Rachel Carson's writings and interpret her messages for audiences including policy makers, scientists, industrialists, members of the media, and members of the public
* Explore and describe the cultural, scientific and policy context for her work
* Critically consider how and why Rachel Carson's work has influenced thinking, public debate and public policy, and the course of technology development in her lifetime and beyond. Rachel’s Carson legacy will be considered specifically with respect to how risks are assessed and managed, and what are the ongoing implications for innovation in science, policy and industry.
Readings for the course will include Carson’s own writings, from “Lost Woods”, “The Sea Around Us” and “Silent Spring.” Selected other readings will set the context for her work, reflect contemporary responses to her writings, and bring the issues she raised into the 21st century.
For the culmination of the course, students will propose ideas for recognizing Carson’s work and legacy during the centennial of her birth in 2007.
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