FYS: Poisons: From Paracelsus to the Age of AI

3 Credits.

Humans have always had to navigate a world of dangerous chemicals: some plants nourish us, while others can kill, and some of the most dangerous substances can also be used in small doses as medicines. In this seminar, we will explore the history of toxicology from Paracelsus’s claim that “the dose makes the poison” to today’s AI-powered toxicology, which seeks to replace animal testing. We will also consider contemporary concerns such as endocrine disruptors and "forever chemicals", and the ways scientific evidence can become entangled with public fear. How do scientists, policymakers, and the public decide what is safe and what is dangerous? How do we weigh the benefits, costs, and fairness of new technologies?