Hidden Figures in Physics

3 units

This seminar explores the lives and contributions of underrepresented physicists throughout history, highlighting their groundbreaking scientific achievements, the societal barriers they faced, and the basic physics concepts underpinning their work. Students will learn about foundational physics principles through the lens of these scientists' discoveries and personal stories while also examining the importance of diversity in STEM. The course includes interactive discussions, group activities, and reading assignments. Activities not completed in class will be assigned as homework. The course involves activities specifically focused on numerical literacy, where students work with datasets, analyze trends, and create visual representations. These activities ensure that students not only engage with the narratives of historical figures but also develop practical skills in applied numeracy to explore and present data-driven insights. The final project involves creating and presenting a poster on a physicist not covered in the course. This project serves at challenging students to conduct independent research, analyze the numerical or scientific context of the physicist's contributions, and connect their work to broader societal or historical themes.