| Course Title: Colloquium: 'Materials and Their Sciences' |
| Start Date: 01/27/2026 End Date: 05/12/2026 |
| Term: Spring Semester 2026 |
| Description: Materials matter for scientific inquiry. From the physical objects scientists investigate, the concrete models they build to explain abstract phenomena, to the instruments they use for observation and measurement, materials are the medium through which scientific knowledge is sought. This course will examine how the sensory properties of various materials -- crystals, yeast, soap bubbles, fossils, textiles fibers, among others -- have critically shaped the questions, theories, and practices of those sciences that have historically engaged them. |
| Distribution(s): I - Humanities , WI - Writing-Intensive , TP - Topics Course |
| Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate | Credits:4.00 |
| Faculty | Phone | Email address |
| Erin Freedman | efreedman@mtholyoke.edu |
| Meeting Dates | Method | Meeting days | Meeting times | Building name | Room | Frequency |
| 01/27/2026 - 05/12/2026 | Seminar | Wednesday | 01:30PM - 04:20PM | TBA | TBA | Weekly |
| Requisite Courses | ||
| Prereq: 8 credits in History, or 4 credits in History and 4 credits in STEM. | Take previously | Required |
| Comments |
| Additional Comments |
| Students will be graded on one research paper that they will pursue throughout the semester, aided by readings, site visits, and smaller assignments. |
| Course Tags |
| Cross-listed Sections |
| None |
| Course Availability | ||||
| Section status: Open | Capacity: 18 | Enrollment: 12 | Available: 6 | Waitlist: 0 |
BOOK INFORMATION
| Book List | Required | Publisher Full Price |
| To be determined. |
| Additional Book Comments |
| This is NOT the complete book list for this class. |