Science Literacy - How Solid Science Can Help You Save the World
proposé par
Science Literacy - How Solid Science Can Help You Save the World
Erasmus University Rotterdam
À propos de ce cours
4.3
28 ratings
This course will help you become scientifically literate so that you can make better choices for yourself and the world. Unlike other courses on statistics and scientific methods, we explore global challenges - such as poverty or climate change - and then discuss how key approaches of statistics and scientific methods can help tackle these challenges. We present these approaches in a non-mathematical and easily accessible way. You will leave the course being able to recognize which efforts to do good in this world actually work, and you will have used your science literacy to make some personal changes in your life.
Many current attempts to do good in this world are based on good intentions, but don’t work well, or are even harmful. In this course we talk to leading experts from academia, business and non-profit organizations about how we can use science to distinguish bad, good and even better ways of improving this world. We also invite you to change your own behavior to do more good. You will learn how to spot BS (bad science) in the media, how to evaluate whether a social program works or not, and how your career could have a better impact on this world. Finally, you will develop your own plan on how you are going to do good better with science.
Guest speakers include Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely, Philosopher Peter Singer, and Happiness researcher Elizabeth Dunn.
Programme du cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
1
Section
Science literacy as a vaccine against the charlatans
We kick off this course by providing some ammunition for what the astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson said: ”Science literacy is a vaccine against the charlatans of the world that would exploit your ignorance.” Here, you will discover that you should be wary of the recommendations that you get from our governments on how to save water, from the media based on new scientific findings, and even from our doctor. At the same time, you will see that a basic understanding of statistics and scientific methods - which you will acquire throughout this course - will protect you against misinformation and bad science, and help you make better choices for yourself and for this world. At the end of this week you will create and upload a short 3-minute video pitch about global challenges and what your own role is in tackling them (if any).
Please note that Erasmus University Rotterdam pursues the science of learning. Online learners are important participants in that pursuit. The information we gather from your engagement with our instructional offerings makes it possible for faculty, researchers, and designers to continuously improve their work and, in that process, build learning science. By registering as an online learner, you are also participating in research.
6 vidéos (Total 66 min), 7 lectures, 1 quiz
6 vidéos
90 second trailer1 min
Water we doing?!10 min
Optional video: What Morillio and his team are doing to improve access to clean water4 min
Dear doctor7 min
Optional video: Full-length interview with John Ioannidis35 min
Implanting a chip in your brain6 min
7 lectures
Cost-benefit analyses to answer the question: should I floss or not?10 min
Make your own cost-benefit analysis10 min
Check your cost-benefit analysis5 min
Optional documentary about costs and benefits of eating meat10 min
Why Most Research Findings Are False10 min
Optional reading: Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science10 min
Ted Talk "Photos that bear witness to modern day slavery"10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Please take 3 minutes to tell us how things are going14 min
2
Section
Stop guessing!
"Whenever you leave behind failure, that means you're doing better. If you think everything you've done has been great, you're probably dumb." – Louis CK.
Many social programs - such as efforts to reduce poverty or improve people’s health - are based on good intentions but simply don’t work, or are even harmful. This week you will discover that humans are pretty bad at guessing which programs work, and that the best way to assess whether a program works is by running randomized controlled trials. You will see that conducting multiple rigorous evaluations is how we can leave behind failure and do better in this world. And not be dumb. At the end of this week you’ll be ready to put your new skills to use by critically assessing a BS (bad science) media report.
9 vidéos (Total 112 min), 10 lectures, 5 quiz
9 vidéos
A big fat problem13 min
Video testimonial: hear how your fellow learners are doing2 min
Optional: Full-length interview with Dan Ariely34 min
Poverty, Bills & Cash1 min
Poverty, Bills & Cash Continued7 min
Optional video: full-length interview with Paul Niehaus34 min
2 minute excerpt from the interview with Dan Ariely2 min
Micro Creditis9 min
Our interviewees talk about being annoyed6 min
10 lectures
Week introduction2 min
Giving Game1 min
Charity overview5 min
PlayPumps5 min
Doing good1 min
Charity Details5 min
About the Giving Game1 min
Giving well5 min
Ted Talk: Why medicine often has dangerous side effects for women10 min
Pay it forward10 min
4 exercices pour s'entraîner
Initial Charity Choice1 min
Reflect on PlayPumps2 min
Final Charity Choice1 min
Dan Ariely's panda express experiment8 min
3
Section
Putting it all together
15 vidéos (Total 187 min), 7 lectures, 4 quiz
15 vidéos
Buying happiness15 min
Optional video: full length interview Elizabeth Dunn25 min
Optional video: full-length interview Peter Singer26 min
Measuring your own happiness - question 11 min
Measuring your own happiness - question 2 & 31 min
Measuring your own happiness - question 42 min
Measuring your own happiness - question 5 - 82 min
Measuring your own happiness - question 9 min
Measuring your own happiness - question 10 min
Some final comments on happiness1 min
In the best of wealth12 min
Optional video: full-length interview Robert Wiblin31 min
9 to 513 min
Imagine. You are almighty - what would you do?8 min
Optional: full-length interview Marcel Fafchamps46 min
7 lectures
Week Introduction1 min
Optional video: Want to find out more about measurement validity?28 min
Thought Experiment Conclusion1 min
Arctic expedition10 min
Doing Good Better7 min
Optional: Beth Barnes on how to save the world7 min
Optional: Want to find out more about how organizations can calculate cost-effectiveness10 min
3 exercices pour s'entraîner
Graded multiple choice quiz: measurement matters20 min
Thought Experiment5 min
How rich are you?7 min
4
Section
Yes but wait
5 vidéos (Total 44 min), 10 lectures, 2 quiz
5 vidéos
Innovating to zero8 min
Optional: Full-length interview Karen Maas6 min
Fishy finance9 min
Optional video: Full-length interview Helen Toxopeus13 min
Know this tune?5 min
10 lectures
Week 4 Introduction5 min
Existential Risk1 min
Optional: Ted Talk Bill Gates10 min
Optional: Video of the Ocean Cleanup Project10 min
Other existential risks10 min
Expert risk assessment10 min
Existential Risk Conclusion10 min
Comparing potential for impact10 min
Podcast: How can we prioritize global challenges?59 min
Optional videos: mini tutorials by Dirk Bezemer10 min
2 exercices pour s'entraîner
Existential Risk5 min
What's your carbon footprint?7 min
4.3
Meilleurs avis
par AV•Oct 12th 2016
This is a very interesting and possibly even eye-opening course. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to use more rationality and solid science in everyday life.
Enseignants
Vera Schölmerich
PhDErasmus University College, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University
Kellie Liket
PhDImpact Centre Erasmus (ICE) - Erasmus School of Economics
À propos de Erasmus University Rotterdam
Erasmus University: a top-100 ranked international research university based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Our academic teaching and research focuses on four areas: health, wealth, culture and governance.
Erasmus University Rotterdam: make it happen.
Foire Aux Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
D'autres questions ? Visitez le Centre d'Aide pour les Etudiants.
Coursera propose un accès universel à la meilleure formation au monde,
en partenariat avec des universités et des organisations du plus haut niveau, pour proposer des cours en ligne.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. Tous droits réservés.
