Bioethics professor Jason Robert will once again integrate the public into his BIO 394 class and film series this fall.
Robert, director for the Bioethics, Policy and Law program, uses the film series to address ethics in science, and as a stimulus for discussion.
The format for the class was conceived by bioethics faculty members, one of whom is Felicity Snyder, program manager for the Center for Biology and Society at ASU.
“The idea [for the class], … was not just to be a course, but offer it as a public film series — as a way for folks to come together and discuss important issues of Bioethics,” Snyder said.
Since its inception in 2005, the films shown in the course have revolved around a theme.
Robert, who received a research grant from the National Science Foundation, said he enjoys teaching the class so it mirrors the research he’s currently pursuing.
“The research that I’m doing right now relates to the brain and behavioral science and the intersection of psychiatry and neuroscience, so I wanted to be able to offer a film series that picks up on these researching trends of mine,” he said.
The theme this semester is “The Brain,” which will cover topics such as Alzheimer’s, informed personal consent, erasing memories and the moral attitudes of therapists and psychologists.
One of the goals this semester is to expose students to these topics, how they apply to the reality of contemporary science and where ethics fits into the philosophy of professionals in science-related fields, Snyder said.
For the past decade Robert has integrated media into his curriculum, such as using clips from “The Simpsons” and “Southpark” to spark discussion, without stifling conversation, and intellectual curiosity of his students.
Cera Lawrence, a first-year biology and society gradudate student, took Robert’s class last May and said she enjoyed the differing views of her peers and people from the community she was exposed to during the class.
“It was really interesting to hear different people’s thoughts and opinions … I think that’s really beneficial,” she said. “I think that’s something college is supposed to be about.”
Co-instructor for the class and Ph.D. candidate in bioethics and law Jenny Brian explained the inspiration for the four films that were selected for this semester.
“We are reading articles in scientific journals and The New York Times about research that’s happening in science labs,” Brian said.
The first film, “Iris,” will be shown Sept. 17 in Life Sciences East in room 104. The other films include “Charlie,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “Girl Interrupted,” which will be shown every three weeks on Thursdays in the same room.
Although the film series has not started yet, Snyder has high expectations for the film series this fall because of interest it has already generated, and she encourages everyone to participate in the screenings and discussions.
“We can all go watch films separately, but there is something very powerful about watching films as a collective and then discussing it right afterward when those ideas are still bubbling,” she said.
Reach the reporter at brian.bahe@asu.edu.
