Byrne Seminars

Professor:  Casimir Kulikowski (Computer Science)

Description: Most recently AI has become notorious for what is expected from ChatGPT and its Large Language Models, frequently able to generate remarkably sensible comments and answers to questions. Yet it also makes clumsy mistakes like inventing fictitious people and references to back-up its texts, while generating fake images is a major activity on the web. Deep Learning methods of artificial neural networks that draw on enormous amounts of data is being hyped as a panacea for solving a wide range of problems, with companies are promoting  self-driving automobiles, drones, investment strategies, and even medical diagnosis. But the hype and fatal accidents with self-driving vehicles have many wondering whether the next “AI Winter” will come soon - when enthusiasm and funding from industry and government dries up as result of AI not delivering on its promises. Critical human abilities of “thinking” visually and metaphorically present tremendous challenges for AI, and ethical and social problems abound. This seminar will take a look at how AI has evolved, and just how far today’s novel techniques can be pushed – and whether or not they might hope to deliver on the claims that robots will outstrip humans with their smart behaviors in our lifetimes and whether a “singularity” is coming, where machine intelligence is able to surpass living beings routinely.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 34

Professor: Farzad Yousefian (Industrial Engineering)

Description: This Byrne Seminar provides first-year students with an introduction to the use of mathematical modeling for decision-making in engineering and science. The lectures will include the discussion of a series of examples where linear optimization models are employed for capturing challenging decision-making problems. They will also include the discussion of how these mathematical models can be solved using programming languages such as Python and Microsoft Excel. The lectures will include hands-on in-class and out-of-class experiments where the students will be engaged through small coding assignments.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 30

Professor: Jonathan Holloway (President, Rutgers University)

Description: We live in an era of extreme political polarization, increasing social instability, and declining faith in the nation’s institutions and the virtues of civil discourse. How might we, as individuals, chart a path out of this troubling state of affairs? What role can we play in confronting the accumulating challenges in our society? What should we reasonably expect of our institutions and what do these institutions owe us? What are our responsibilities to be good civic actors when we are confronted by a public discourse—the arena where political rhetoric, corporate news, social media, advertising, and opinion culture interact—that appears uninterested in speaking to our common values?

This course addresses these questions via a series of conversations with distinguished leaders from the corporate, political, non-profit, media, labor, and faith communities, all of which help constitute “the public.”

Students will leave the course with a heightened understanding of the roles and responsibilities of citizenship, an appreciation for the ways in which institutions and values shape our interactions, and a sharpened set of critical thinking skills when it comes to wrestling with difficult and even contradictory ideas.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 25

Professor: Lisa Klein (Materials Science & Engineering)

Description: What is needed to improve the sustainable energy technologies we already have? What is needed to make new technologies practical and clean in the area of energy generation? We will explore energy storage in devices such as batteries and energy conversion in devices such as solar cells and fuel cells. We will talk about active research at Rutgers on alternative energy materials and systems. In the lab, we will assemble and test our own dye-sensitized solar cells.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 11

Professor: Derek Shendell (Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice)

Description: This Byrne Seminar will focus on selected NJ communities with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/NJ Department of Environmental Protection designated Superfund or abandoned hazardous waste sites now also potentially impacted by climate change, including extreme weather events and natural disasters year-round. Discussions will incorporate an interdisciplinary perspective across public health, environmental and engineering sciences, socio-demographic factors, and justice issues. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 27

Professor: Milton Heumann (Political Science)

Description: We begin with reading a journalistic account of criminal justice in Chicago. This is followed by a more general discussion of criminal justice across many cities. Next a prosecutor, defense attorney , and judge speak to the seminar and share their experiences with particular emphasis on their most memorable cases and with their most poignant insights from their careers working in the courts. Students have the opportunity to carefully question the speaker, and test hypotheses derived from the readings against the speakers’ experiences. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 32

Professor: Frederick Curry (Dance)

Description: In response to the dramatic increase in reported levels of anxiety in society, there is a deepened appreciation of embodied approaches to wellness.  In this seminar, students will embody Pilates Mat exercises originally developed by Joseph Pilates (1883-1967) and Clara Pilates (1882-1977) as evolved through the contemporary, student-centered, evidence-based approach of Polestar Pilates.  Physically, Pilates Mat exercises increase range of motion, strength, flexibility, coordination and alignment. Emotionally, Pilates Mat offers strategies for self-regulation and social-emotional wellness.  Both physical and emotional benefits will be addressed in the seminar.  Variations and modifications of exercises and integration of props will be used to help students address their individual needs.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 04

Professor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Science)

Description: “Globesity” is the term used by some to describe the worldwide impact of obesity. Several treatments are available for obesity, but do any of them work? In this seminar, we will explore the causes and consequences of obesity and current treatment strategies. Through hands-on experiments, we will analyze neural pathways that control food intake and body weight, and examine how obesity drugs work. We will explore obstacles to long-term treatment and efficacy standards of the FDA.

Course Number: 11:090:101 section 09

Professors: Nicole Kasatkin (RWJ Medicine, Genetic Counseling) and Shannon Trujillo (RWJ Medicine, Genetic Counseling)

Description: Have you wondered why you have blue eyes? Does breast cancer seem to run in your family? Can genetics help solve murder mysteries? In this seminar, we will dive into how our genetics shape our lives every day. Our genetics can determine how we look, how we act, and whether we have a predisposition to certain health conditions. On the other hand, your genes do not necessarily dictate your destiny. We will explore the role of genetics in our lives through the lenses of various specialties: cancer, reproductive sciences, and pediatrics. You will be introduced to hot topics such as direct-to-consumer testing (23andMe, Ancestry DNA, etc.), pharmacogenomics, and the ethics of genetics research and testing. Genetic counselors, Nicole Kasatkin and Shannon Trujillo, will share real-world experiences, patient stories, and current advancements. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to engage in discussion, observation of videos, and reflection.  

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 36

Professor: Triveni Kuchi (Rutgers Libraries)

Description: With emerging information and communication technologies, the plethora of information constantly generated is overwhelming. Such an information environment directly affects the way you discover, keep, use, or re-use information for your research. How do you manage your bazillion files? What organizing schemes or strategies for managing information are out there? What works, what doesn’t, and why? This course will focus on understanding what information management entails; and how it requires an active, deliberative selection among alternatives, and a critical and habitual pursuit of analyzing and re-categorizing information. Through readings, class discussions, hands-on labs, and guest speakers, students will reflect, analyze, compare and use information organizing schemes or tools for managing a variety of different types of information. Final presentations will allow each student to creatively explore particular information management tools that are used at either the organizational or the individual level in 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 45

Professor: Mark Robson (Plant Biology; Faculty Director, Byrne Seminars)

Description: There are almost eight billion people in the world today and the population will grow to close to ten billion by 2050.  Almost eighty five percent of the population live in developing countries.  One of the challenges for this ever-growing population is providing a secure food supply.  We will discuss the trends in global food production and the technology used to increase global food supply. We will also explore the ever-growing global obesity epidemic – while there are 900 million under nourished people in the world there is a larger number of people, close to 1.4 billion, who are overweight.  Finally, we will look at the overall health of the global population, their jobs, their lifestyle, and the relationship to global environmental health issues, in particular those dealing with problems such as water and air pollution, food production and safety, and infectious and occupational diseases. Professor Robson will share experiences from developing countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa. Case studies and current research will be used as illustrations.

Course Number: 11:090:101 section 06

Professor: Lei Yu (Genetics)

Description: Humans have been using nature-made ingredients (herbs, minerals, and extracts from plants and animals) to treat diseases since ancient times. In modern day science, medicine-making is one of the largest industries and job markets for the college-educated. In this Byrne seminar, we will use examples of potion-making from the Harry Potter book series as a literary platform, and introduce the knowledge and scientific approaches for medicine-making science and processes. This class will have assigned reading and extensive in-class discussions, both as a full class, and in small groups. The objective is to introduce the students to biomedical research, and to develop skills in critical thinking. By the end of the course, students should be conversant with the subject area about the modern medicine-making process, the basics of how biomedical research is conducted, and how it applies to real-world examples. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 31

Professor: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)

Description: Biotechnology has been perceived and portrayed in various ways by Hollywood and filmmakers around the world. In this course, we will explore the occasionally wide gap between public perception and the way science really "works." Students will view and discuss the portrayal of bio- and nanotechnologies in popular movies from this country and possibly some select international films. Misconceptions and accurate portrayals will be analyzed to introduce students to a basic understanding of the latest exciting work in rapidly emerging areas such as genomics and epigenetics. Students will present thumbs up/thumbs down science movie reviews as a required assignment.

Course Number: 11:090:101:03

Professors: Ines Rauschenbach (Biochemistry & Microbiology) and Ramaydalis Keddis (Biochemistry & Microbiology)

Description:  What did surgery look like before doctors washed their hands and used aseptic technique? What allowed scientists to discover that microbes recycle carbon and nitrogen in the environment? How did people fear the unknown Spanish flu pandemic and how does this compare to the COVID pandemic of 2020? This seminar will highlight those questions and more to allow students to understand the impact that microbiology has had on society over the past hundreds of years and which experiments and discoveries shaped the knowledge that we have today. The course will include readings, mini lectures, discussion, and hands-on activities that will spotlight the past and present of microbiological discoveries.

Professors: Alice Liu (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) and Samuel Gunderson (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) 

Description: Neurodegenerative diseases occur when nervous system cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord begin to deteriorate. Changes in these cells cause them to function abnormally and eventually result in the cells' demise. As neurons deteriorate, an individual may first experience relatively mild symptoms — problems with coordination or remembering names. But as huge numbers of neurons die, symptoms progressively worsen. Ultimately, many of these diseases are fatal.
Today, ~5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD); 1 million from Parkinson's (PD); 400,000 from multiple sclerosis (MS); 30,000 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), and 30,000 from Huntington's disease (HD). Because neurodegenerative diseases strike primarily in mid- to late-life, the incidence is expected to soar as the population ages. If left unchecked 30 years from now, more than 12 million Americans will suffer from neurodegenerative diseases.  Finding treatments and cures for neurodegenerative diseases is a goal of increasing urgency.   
Huntington’s Disease is caused by a single gene mutation and transmitted by autosomal dominant mode.  This genetic background is much simpler than the common AD & PD.   HD can be a useful model to better understand the pathogenic mechanism in ND in general and in so doing help to chart therapeutics development.
Part of the goal of this Byrne seminar is for you the student (1) to learn the basics of macromolecular structure and function, and (2) to have a better appreciation and understanding of how mutant proteins can drive disease pathogenesis using HD as a principal example.   

Course Number: 11:090:101 section 13

Professors: John Chatlos (University Behavioral Healthcare, Psychiatry) and Lyra Stein (Psychology)

Description: The “Framework of Spirituality” (Chatlos 2021), a science-based process for exploring a new understanding of spiritual experience will be the foundation for this unique course. The limits of Erik Erikson’s Stage of Adolescent “Identity versus Role Confusion” will be reviewed as we learn about identity formation. The course will then explore an alternative approach to youth development that empowers self-worth (self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-competence) and dignity (reason, compassion and courage) as key to personal spiritual awareness. A newly developed “Teen Guide to Transform the World” will guide each session as students will practice exercises in personal transformation toward discovering their unique purpose and possible contribution to the world. This is an experiential course that will foster sharing of personal experiences to integrate spiritual principles into their college years making them more productive. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 03

Professors: Veronica Armour (Director, Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Academy) and Vincent Silenzio (Urban-Global Public Health)

Description: This seminar explores innovation through community-based research and New Jersey’s rising innovation ecosystem in the area of public health and health tech.  New Jersey is the medicine cabinet chest to the world and the state is in the midst of an innovation economy where rapidly changing technology is fundamentally changing the kinds of work in which individuals engage.  Students will learn how to get involved with social innovation in public health and health tech through the Rutgers Health Service Corps and the Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Academy.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 50

Professors: Chloe Hawkings (Entomology) and Benjamin Lintner (Environmental Science)

Description: Understanding global climate dynamics is an essential part of adapting our society to be more sustainable. As climates change around the world, insects can be a useful model to assess these ecological impacts. Insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet and provide necessary ecosystem services in all terrestrial environments. As temperatures change it is important to assess how insects adapt. Insects intersect with humans in many ways which can change as a result of climate change. Understanding the dynamics of pests and focusing on the abundance of insects in tropical environments can aid our understanding of ecosystem health. In this seminar we focus on the mechanics of climate change and look at the effect on insect populations.

Course Number: 11:090:101 section 01

Professors: Evelyn Wang (Dance) and Paul Ocampo (Dance)

Description: This course will investigate various dances, traditional arts and culture of Taiwan, the Philippines, and neighboring countries. Through the language of dance, students will learn traditional arts and cultures using practices and modality that are fun, interactive and informative. This seminar is designed for students who want to expand their understanding of dance as an emblem of cultural identity and an expression of social order. Along with the practice of dance, we will experience how to prepare traditional foods associated with respective festivities. The food serves as a conduit for a holistic experience to deeper comprehension of Asian cultural arts and heritage. This seminar will include a field trip to New York City.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 40

Professor: Derek Shendell (Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice)

Description: This course addresses indoor air and environmental quality (IEQ or IAQ) problems and mitigation approaches. The course examines major sources, commonly identified pollutants (exposure agents or risk factors for acute and chronic adverse health effects), and factors determining pollutant concentrations in indoor environments. The course also examines health risks associated with various IAQ problems in contrast to other relevant types of health risks (from outdoor air, etc). Risk management options and recommendations, including regulatory and technical approaches, will be reviewed and discussed.  

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 26

Professor: Ronald Quincy (School of Social Work)

Description: In this seminar students will work on capacity building projects with the co-instructors to support several civil society and nonprofit organizations in Kenya. Students will engage with the Mandela Washington Leadership Fellowship Alumni on their Civil Society Organization Projects in Kenya through the use of electronic media (e.g. Skype). The seminar will engage students with Johnson & Johnson leaders based both in the U.S. and in sub-Saharan Africa about best practices in managing and leading African Civil Society Organizations. Students will take a trip to the U.N. to attend an international conference related to African Civil Society Organizations.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 35

Professor: Joan Bennett (Plant Biology)

Description: Microbes are organisms too small to be seen by the naked eye. The best known cause diseases but most microbial species are an essential and beneficial part of the living world. The course will discuss the role of selected microbial species 1) diseases in human history (e.g., plague, syphilis, tuberculosis); 2) foods (e.g. bread, miso, yogurt) and beverages (e.g., beer, wine) fermentations; 3) sources of biologically active chemical compounds (e.g. hallucinogens, penicillin, streptomycin); and 4) processes (e.g. biodeterioration). 

Course Number: 11:090:101 section 05

Professors: John Pavlik (Journalism & Media Studies)

Description: Understanding the nature and impact of digital technology on media and society is the focus of this seminar. Students examine the changing nature of media in the digital environment, including social media, and their consequences, especially implications for civility, democracy, journalism and beyond. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 22

Professor: Michael McDonough (Planning and Public Policy)

Description: Medicine and the Humanities is an interdisciplinary course that incorporates history, philosophy, art, literature and various forms of media as a way to explore the social and cultural issues related to health and illness. 

Course Number: 01:090:101:17

Professors: Julia Maxwell (Rutgers Libraries)

Description: It’s hard to know how to determine what’s “true” on the internet. And trying to sort fact from fiction generates a lot of questions. When does a funny meme become misinformation? How do we convince someone that they’re falling for a false internet claim? And why does “fake news” even work? This seminar will explore the social, emotional, and political reasons behind the spread and impact of mis-, dis-, and malinformation (aka “fake news”). Through discussion, reflection, and practice, we will develop digital citizenship skills, recognize bias (in ourselves and in the world around us), determine credibility, and evaluate internet sources effectively. We will also develop strategies for helping our friends, family, and community recognize and combat “fake news.” 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 15

Professors: Scott Ordway (Music) and Anette Freytag (Landscape Architecture)

Description: The natural world has always been a primary source of inspiration for musicians. In recent years, composers have continued this tradition by creating powerful works in response to contemporary environmental issues such as global warming, carbon emissions, and wilderness conservation, among others. In this seminar, students will listen to and discuss classical and contemporary vocal and instrumental works that address and celebrate humanity’s efforts to live in harmony with the natural world. They will furthermore investigate how video, sound recordings, and digital tools of analysis and fabrication can change both the perception and the representation of our environment. They will get insight in how to use these tools for their own research, compositions, and designs.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 21

Professor: Lauren Neitzke Adamo (Earth & Planetary Sciences)

Description: The goal of this seminar is to explore, examine, and discuss some of the most important and potentially life altering geoscience issues affecting our society.  Through a mixture of guest lectures, field trips, class discussions, and hands-on in class activities; students will learn about topics such as climate change, the search for oil and other natural resources, sea-level rise, the exploration of the moon and other extraterrestrial planets, and more!  This course will provide a space for students to discuss these topics with leading experts in the field, as well as examine how some of this science is communicated to the public with trips to local natural history museums and discussions with formal and informal educators.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 20

Professor: Simon Wickhamsmith (English Writing Program)

Description: Look out of your window and find something which has not been crafted, sown, destroyed, manipulated, or imposed by humans. Are we really the most powerful, the most intelligent species? (And what do we mean when we talk about power and intelligence, anyhow?) If we keep quiet, and listen instead, if we stop trying to do something, and observe instead, we will notice that, at the same time as we try to adapt the world around us, the world around us is undergoing its own process of adaptation. But rather than thinking of opposition - of imposition versus adaptation, of humans versus nature - we could instead look at how we fit into what the Potowatomi environmental scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer calls the “democracy of species”. This course will ask you to look at the world in a new way, neither to condemn our human species, nor to elevate nature for sentimental reasons, but in order to consider how we can refine our perception of where we, as individuals and as a species, fit in alongside, and enjoy the company of - inter alia - wood and water, tarantulas and tardigrades, cats and cassowaries, the common cold and the Covid-19 virus. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 44

Professors: Sara Elnakib (Family and Community Health Sciences) and Kathleen Howell (Rutgers Cooperative Extension)

Description: Time management and planning skills are essential to a student's success. This seminar will introduce students to strategies to help balance newfound freedom with what is required to succeed academically.  This course focuses on pursuing academic success while recognizing the importance of rest, social connections, extracurricular activities, and personal well-being. This seminar will explore creative calendaring, planning, and organization techniques, as well as introduce several types of journaling methods (i.e., bullet, manifestation, prompted, etc.), to curate days in a way that maximizes energy, boosts productivity, and focuses on what is important and nourishing in life. There is no recipe that fits all, but planning in a way that works for each student's personality type is key to living an intentional and meaningful life.  

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 06

Professor: Aaron Mazzeo (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)

Description: Pulp-based paper has conveyed information with printed lettering, diagrams, and illustrations for hundreds of years. In these conventional formats, the flipping or turning of pages has required human manipulation. Recent research efforts are beginning to add life and active functionality to paperbased structures in the form of mechanical grippers, manipulators, and locomotors. In this hands-on seminar, students will review state-of-the-art research in paper-based robotics (i.e., paperbotics) and active origami, and then exercise creativity to build paper-based machines that will be capable of motion and interaction with humans. By also planning the aesthetics of their projects, participants in this seminar will go beyond building gadgets to craft functional pieces of art. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 16

Professor: Edward Ramsamy (Africana Studies)

Description: The life and legacy of the esteemed Rutgers alumnus Paul Robeson embodies the idea of “global citizenship.” A towering figure in the African American struggle for human dignity and democratic rights, he connected this struggle with those of other peoples around the world, who were also fighting for political rights, cultural recognition and economic justice. For example, among many other social justice movements that he embraced, Paul Robeson pioneered the global solidarity movement against racial segregation and white supremacy in South Africa and supported and marched with various British union movements in the United Kingdom who were struggling for better working conditions. The aim of this seminar is to introduce students to the life and legacy of Paul Robeson, especially with respect to how he tried to integrate “home” and “world” into his civil rights activism. The seminar has a four-fold focus: (1) to explore Paul Robeson’s formative years as a student at Rutgers and the challenges he faced as the only Black student in his graduating class; (2) to examine some of his artistic achievements as an actor on the stage and screen, especially his role in promoting African-American folk songs on the concert stages of the world; (3) to study his efforts to connect anti-fascism, anti-racism and anti-imperialism together; and (4) to examine his controversial associations with communist movements and the former Soviet Union. This course will feature archival materials and guest presentations by Susan Robeson.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 47

Professors: Christopher Manente (Executive Director, Rutgers Center For Adult Autism Services) and Vanessa Bal (Applied Psychology)

Description: There are currently more than 5,000,000 adults with autism living in the United States, with 50,000 more that “age-out” of their school-based educational entitlement every year. Many adults with autism are without access to high-quality services and supports. As a result, these individuals are often relegated to long adult lives characterized by social isolation, unemployment, untreated psychological and physical health conditions, and near complete reliance on parents, family, and other caregivers to meet their basic needs. This situation represents a crisis for many adults with autism and their families. This current state of affairs is largely due to a lack of trained staff, an absence of research related to the most effective practices for supporting adults with autism across settings & contexts, and few existing models for the delivery of high-quality clinical services. This seminar will examine the nature of autism and the many ways in which a diagnosis of autism can impact a person's life throughout adulthood. Additionally, the seminar will provide a guided exploration of the historical context of society's views and awareness related to autism and the many iterations of models for services and supports that have been implemented ranging from confinement in segregated institutional settings, other community-based models of care, and recent innovative models of services and support that are currently emerging for this population. The seminar will place a particular emphasis on the dire need for highly skilled practitioners from a variety of academic and professional disciplines to get involved in the development of innovative solutions to the multitude of challenges faced by autistic adults in their pursuit of a meaningful adult life in their communities. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 39

Professor: Zeeshan Ahmed (Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, & Aging Research)

Description: Precision medicine aims to empower clinicians to predict the most appropriate course of action for patients with complex diseases, and improve routine medical and public health practice. However, practicing precision medicine is not straightforward, as significant efforts are required from the experts in multidisciplinary sciences. In this seminar, we will focus on discussing three important areas that heavily contribute to the development of precision medicine initiatives, 1) understanding complexities of Electronic Healthcare Records; 2) bioinformatics applications for genomics data analysis; and 3) intelligent and integrative data analysis with machine learning algorithms. Active participation will help students in learning about operational and academic medical systems, intelligently linking curated clinical data with computationally processed genomic data to identify functional variants among expressed genes, and investigating genotype and phenotype associations. This seminar will be grouped with theoretical discussions, basic and life science concepts, and computational skills. Case-studies will include reported, peer reviewed findings related to COVID-19 and Cardiovascular diseases. Interested students are most welcome to join.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 01

Professor: Stephen Schnetzer (Physics & Astronomy)

Description: This seminar will introduce students to the ideas behind the coming quantum computing revolution. We will discuss foundations of quantum information including qubits, entanglement and modern interpretations of quantum mechanics; applications of quantum computing in cryptography and other areas; the technologies being explored for realizing quantum computing; and the quantum information aspects of black holes and gravity. In the seminar, we will discuss technical subjects but at the level of a Scientific American article. Students need only have some understanding of physics and math at the high school level. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 24

Professor: Andrea Spaeth (Kinesiology and Health)

Description: Many young adults face challenges with attentional focus. This impacts academic performance as well as social interactions. The use of social media and stress related to recent global events has increased the prevalence and severity of this issue. This course will discuss attentional focus as a construct (class 1) and how it is impacted by social media use (class 2) and stress (class 3). In addition, we will learn and practice several evidence-based techniques that improve an individual’s ability to focus and sustain their attention (class 4: mindfulness, class 5: progressive relaxation, class 6: structured scheduling and minimizing distraction, class 7: slow reading, class 8: active listening). We will also conclude by exploring how several commonly-used substances impact attentional focus (class 9: caffeine and other stimulants and class 10: alcohol and cannabis). Concepts covered in the course will span neuroscience, physiology and psychology. The goal is to empower students with knowledge and tools to improve their ability to focus their attention in a variety of settings.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 29

Professors: Chiara Sabina (School of Social Work) and Victoria Banyard (School of Social Work)

Description: A look at the daily news, classes on human history, and the lived experiences of people in our communities and families often show us that adversity, stress, oppression are all around us. But so are strengths and resilience. Resilience science is the study of factors that lead to well-being and thriving in spite of difficulties. This course will introduce students to the science of resilience, an interdisciplinary area of study that includes ideas from across the social sciences including psychology, social work, public health, history, sociology but also has connections to literature and art. Students will learn how researchers define and study strengths and resilience. They will learn what practices and factors promote thriving and well-being. Students will practice applying some evidence-based practices in their own lives through both in-class active learning activities and course-long project of their own choosing. Class meetings will be enhanced by guest speakers who teach and practice well-being enhancing strategies. Emphasis in this seminar will be on learning about strengths across the human social ecology include those that are within individuals, in relationships, and in communities.

Course Number: 11:090:101 section 23

Professor: Amy Miele (Student Affairs)

Description: This course provides an introduction and exposure to the principles of restorative justice and its application to the treatment of social problems. In this course, we will focus on the fundamental principles and practices of restorative justice, explores the needs and roles of key stakeholders (victims, offenders, communities, and justice systems), outline the basic principles and values of restorative justice, and introduces some of the primary models of practice. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 18

Professor: J.D. Bowers (Dean, Rutgers Honors College)

Description: This seminar explores the contemporary case studies of injustices, violence, atrocities, and catastrophes, as well as then, the responses to them by communities of victims, stakeholders, interventionists, and the many levels of society. Using your free subscriptions to both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal (available to you through the Rutgers University Library System) we will identify, read, explore, and research stories of violence and the responses to them. Through such a lens we will learn how to discern fact from opinion, how to read the news for long-term cycles (and avoid the trap of the short-term or headline-based cycles), and how to have productive conversations on the issues of the day. Our goal will be, each week, to read, dive deeper, discuss, and develop informed views and understandings so that we can sustain an appropriate and informed level of discourse throughout our lives as we encounter news stories and their impacts on ourselves and the world around us. At the end of the course, your objective will be to produce a brief OpEd piece addressing one story and issue that we have explored.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 35

Professor: Xiangmin Liu (Labor Studies) and Jingang Yi (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)

Description: The widespread adoption of robots and automation in various industries has a transformative impact on the evolving nature of work and employment. On the one hand, these technologies enable businesses to automate many tasks currently performed by humans, leading to higher efficiency and productivity. On the other hand, the widespread adoption of these technologies has led to changes in the skill sets that are required for many jobs, as well as the creation of new job opportunities in the areas such as design, programming, and maintenance that did not previously exist. This course aims to introduce first-year college students to the fields of robotics and automation and stimulate their interest in understanding the relationship between science, technology, and the future of work. In lectures, students will learn a wide variety of multidisciplinary topics, such as technological innovations, labor markets, and workforce development. During lab visits, students will see first-hand how the principles and theories they have learned in the lectures are applied n real-world scenarios. Furthermore, they will have the experiential learning opportunity to engage in practical, hands-on research activities. Overall, this course will help students to develop their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. These skills are important for academic success in the fields of engineering and social sciences, and can be valuable in other areas of study and in life in general.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 14

Professor: Barbara Angeline (Dance)

Description: Authentic jazz dance lies in the freedom of its participants to enthusiastically express their individual spirits. The roots of the African-American-based, social dance form are burrowed firmly in the duality of individual and community contributions and benefits. Jazz dance, in this enduring, social context, is simultaneously celebratory and defiant; inviting and mutinous; explosive and cool. The release of these powerful, communicative forces—united in the embodiment of Africanist dance elements—has been used throughout American history to address social injustices. This seminar explores social jazz dances and their historical connections to social justice. Students will also learn the power of dance as a physical communication, capable of addressing, shaping and changing societal issues.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 37

Professors: Yanhong Jin (Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics) and Mary Wagner (Pharmacy)

Description: Both science and experience suggest that our diet directly correlates with our brain function and how we feel. When we eat nutrient-dense foods, our brains function on a higher level – meaning we can learn, think, and memorize information in a greater capacity. An appropriate diet improves cognitive function and overall wellness. Yet, mindful eating is influenced by socioeconomic factors and behavioral factors. In this seminar, students will explore and learn about issues related to food and health such as: a) the impact of food on personal health; b) innovative and sustainable agriculture that supports the environment; and c) the way food access and affordability impact the social determents of health. This seminar will also discuss the potential health complications and environmental consequences related to our current eating styles and introduce the concept of mindful eating. The course will be an adventure where students are empowered to explore, observe, and document their eating behaviors and their connection to food through self-discovery and active learning. This information may lead the students to become inspired to work with their community to address issues of food justice. 

Course Number: 11:090:101 section 08

Professor: Ani Javian (Dance)

Description: As yoga, meditation, and other somatic techniques become popularized, the word “mindful” gets tossed around in our culture without truly considering its significance. What does it mean? This seminar works toward understanding and experiencing mindfulness via an introduction to general somatic principles such as self-reflection, sensory awareness, and body/mind integration. Through guided movement explorations and other opportunities for increased self-awareness, we may become more adept at tuning in to our interior selves, to the world around us, and to the earth that supports us. There will be some movement, some drawing, and some discussion as we practice listening to cultivate a holistic body/mind approach to our daily lives. No prior movement experience is necessary.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 10

Professor: Li Cai (Biomedical Engineering)

Description: Bioengineering and regenerative medicine seek to develop new therapies for patients with injuries and degenerative diseases. The source of cells for these therapies remains a hot topic of interest. The unlimited potential of stem cells has ignited the creativity and imagination of scientists across multiple disciplines. Future development of this technology depends on increased understanding and effective utilization of stem cells. This seminar will introduce students to the biological, biomedical, biomaterial, bioengineering of this new discipline, and the world of stem cells. We will discuss the definition, origin, and classification, as well as applications of the stem cells in regenerative medicine. Upon completion of this seminar, students will know the intellectual and conceptual vocabulary required to further pursue an interest in stem cell research and the regenerative medical profession. This course is a combination of lectures and discussion sessions focusing on stem cell and bioengineering related topics.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 02

Professor: Elizabeth Matto (Eagleton Institute of Politics)

Description: This course is premised on the notion that, in order for democracy to work, individuals need to be able to talk with one another. Addressing public policy challenges requires reasoned deliberation, critical thinking, and open and civil discourse—the exchange of ideas from different perspectives based on shared facts and conducted with respect and curiosity. This seminar considers why engaging in honest and respectful political discussion is integral to American democracy’s success and explores productive ways to go about it. Students will observe and analyze a range of political exchanges and will be given opportunities to interact with political practitioners and practice the skills of political discussion.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 38

Professor: Kristoffer Shields (Eagleton Institute of Politics)

Description: As the chief executives of their states, governors shape policy, set the state agenda, and act as their state’s representatives in the public eye. Put simply, the governor is usually the most important and powerful person in the state during his or her term(s) in office. No wonder, as we look ahead to 2020, that governors and former governors will once again be on the short lists of potential candidates. Of all the tests a governor can face, however, perhaps none is as important—and difficult—as dealing with the after-effects of a natural disaster. Hurricanes, fires, and floods can be unpredictable, but the importance of a governor’s performance in the aftermath of such an event is certain. This course will begin with a quick look at the office of the governor in general: What is a governor? How do gubernatorial powers differ from state to state? And what role does the governor play in the U.S. federal system? We will then move on to look at this central example of a governor’s power and responsibility: shepherding his or her state through the trauma of a natural disaster. We will use a series of three case studies to research and examine a governor’s range of options in such a challenge, culminating with a long look at our own state’s experience following Super Storm Sandy. We will hear from the people who were involved in the recovery efforts, analyze the political and real-life effects of their decisions, and research what works and what doesn’t when a governor is forced to become the “consoler-in-chief.” 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 28

Professor: Amitabh Lath (Physics and Astronomy)

Description: In this seminar, we will investigate the concept of The Arrow Of Time by first understanding entropy. We will learn to use the Python programming language to calculate probabilities, and from that develop an understanding of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics. We will discuss the ideas of entropy and decay as they appear in literature and culture, including the hold they have in the collective imagination that leads to the rejection of quantitative metrics that show disease, war, and violence decreasing, and the average human condition improving. Finally, we will divide into groups to design and construct working time measurement devices. Using commonly available materials, the groups will make devices to measure one hour as accurately as possible. No clocks allowed!

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 48

Professor: Sharon Lydon (Associate Dean of Alumni and Corporate Engagement, Rutgers Business School)

Description: Throughout history, and certainly during the history of the United States and Rutgers University, progress has been synonymous with leadership. The revolutionary understanding of leadership is that it is everywhere and in everyone’s capacity. While some may be born with a number of the attributes needed for outstanding leadership, it is well accepted, that leadership is something that can be learned and that can be studied. This seminar explores qualitative and quantitative research “on leadership,” and reviews research and theory toward the goal of empowering students to be leaders in all aspects of life, including college, career, and community. Topics include leadership in academic, corporate, and nonprofit work environments, as well as leadership styles and competencies. Relevant issues related to women and ethnic minorities will also be discussed. The course includes readings and dynamic discussion, debate, role-play scenarios, and real-world visibility and exposure to leadership with distinguished course co-instructors, and guest speakers from academic, health care sector, and corporate leadership contexts. 

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 49

Professor: Doyle Knight (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)

Description: Over the past fifty years, high speed passenger trains have emerged as a critical transportation resource throughout the world. The era began with the Japanese Bullet Train (Tōkaidō Shinkansen) first service on 1 October 1964. The Japanese high speed train system now provides over 400 million passenger trips per year, and travels at a top speed exceeding 300 km/hr. Similar high speed passenger trains have been developed in Europe, China and the US. The Byrne Seminar will trace the development of high speed passenger trains and their future.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 12

Professor: Arnold Glass (Psychology)

Description: Ask me to tell you the story of my life, and I will weave an answer based on what I best remember of my experiences. But are all of my memories true? Did they really happen? Thirty years ago human memory was believed to be the result of some sort of recording device in the brain. We now know that autobiographical memory is a narrative that is constantly being rewritten. So, some of our memories of past experiences are in fact false. In this seminar, we will examine the popular theories of memory of the past hundred years and the scientific evidence of today. We will consider the new view of memory as something malleable and its implications for society.  

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 08

Professor: Marjoris Regus (Music)

Description: This course is an introduction to codeswitching-the linguistic practice of mixing two or more languages within a single speech act or discourse- and the popular music genre Reggaetón. Reggaetón began as a 1980’s Spanish-language undercover art form created by socially and economically oppressed Afro-descendant Panamanian youth. The genre’s evolution and popularity has continued to grow beyond Spanish-speaking Caribbean communities. The presence of the ‘dembow’ African-based rhythm and Caribbean Spanish (the most stigmatized of all Spanish varieties both internal and external to the Spanish-speaking world) express diglossic identities of AfroLatinx youth in marginalized neighborhoods in the U.S. and abroad. For this class, we consider reggaetón music as an excellent lens through which to examine distinct domains of codeswitching- linguistically, behaviorally, and musically, as well as a facet of AfroLatinidad. Furthermore, we will discuss the (non)inclusion of Spanish language and Afrocentric-influenced music in U.S. popular culture by way of reggaetón. Class sessions will be organized around lectures, discussion posts (via-Canvas), music listening, film viewings, and readings. Issues of race, racism, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, education, and language will be discussed as factors that impact AfroLatindad and the celebration or rejection of Blackness. Throughout the course we will have guest lectures by (Afro)Latinx musicians and Latinx studies scholars.

*Please note: This course will be taught in English, Spanish, and Spanglish. Readings will be in English and Spanish. All music and video material will be in Spanish as well as Spanglish.

Course Number: 01:090:101 section 43

Professor: Trip McCrossin (Philosophy)

Description: The problem of evil, as Susan Neiman has described it, is the perniciously difficult to satisfy “need to find order within those appearances so unbearable that they threaten reason’s ability to go on,” as when (at times incomprehensibly) bad things happen to (at least relatively) good people, and (at least relatively) good things to (at times incomprehensibly) bad people. Central to her watershed perspective on the problem are two related propositions. She proposes, on the one hand, that midway through the Enlightenment, the problem of evil developed, in addition to the traditional theological version—according to which human reason strains, in the above “find order” spirit, to reconcile conspicuous human suffering with faith in divine wisdom, power, and benevolence, which either makes or allows it to happen—a more secular version as well. Here, while it’s no longer in response to suffering’s ostensibly divine origin, reason strains similarly nonetheless, so much so as to call into question, as the theological version does already, reason’s very ability to make the order it so fervently desires. She goes on to propose, on the other hand, that in response to both versions of the problem primarily two competing perspectives arise, which competition defines us still today, beginning with the public rivalry between Rousseau’s and Voltaire’s, the former insisting that “morality demands that we make evil intelligible,” the latter that “morality demands that we don’t.” The seminar is designed to have participants work together to identify and elaborate the various ways in which these competing perspectives endure in philosophy and popular culture.

Course Number: 01:090:101:41

Professor: Christopher Doll (Music)

Description: Is all pop music really the same? Are rock musicians more original than their pop counterparts? And what about hip hop—is sampling theft, or does it have artistic merit? These and other questions will guide us as we focus our attention on musical and lyrical details that raise issues of influence and allusion between songs from all over the popular-music repertory. We will listen to artists such as Ray Charles, Elvis, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Metallica, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Jay-Z, and Bruno Mars. We will also watch musically intertextual films such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Ray, and attend a live concert of a Led Zeppelin tribute band at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.

Course Number: 01:090:101:05

Professor: Leslin Charles (Rutgers Libraries)

Description: The information age has democratized the dissemination of and access to information. Social media provides a voice to all and can blur the lines of fact and fiction. Are all tweets worth the noise they generate? How can we filter through opinions and the news media to gain accurate knowledge? This course will explore the impact of the information age on our understanding of truth. Through lectures, guest speakers, videos, role play, and discussion, students will examine various channels of information and will be required to find accurate data using a wide range of information sources. .

Course Number: 01:090:101:46

Professor: John Evans (Dance)

Description: This seminar will help you focus on finding calm in your life while joining the ranks of busy college students. Through the study and practice of yoga, we will explore how to build a stronger mind-body connection. This seminar will assist you in learning how the practice of yoga can support a happy and healthy life. Through centering and breathing techniques, strengthening and stretching yoga postures, and simple meditations, students will begin to gain a better sense of well-being. We will investigate mindfulness trainings and yoga sequences throughout the ten-week seminar. 

Course Number: 01:090:101:42