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MATH:1000 First Year Seminar: Home

Course guide for Dr. Cynthia Farthing's fall 2018 First Year Seminar.

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Laurie Neuerburg
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Contact:
Office: 450 VAN
Phone: 319-467-0216
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Undergraduate Engagement Librarian

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Cathy Cranston
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Contact:
cathy-cranston@uiowa.edu
2013 Main Library
319-384-2090
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Course Description

MATH:1000:0001 FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR 
UNCOVERING THE "HIDDEN FIGURES": WOMEN'S ROLE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE FROM WORLD WAR II TO TODAY

How did women mathematicians and scientists help the United States win World War II and send a person into space?  The book Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly tells the story of African-American mathematicians who worked for the United States government on these projects.  In this seminar, we will read Hidden Figures, and use it as a starting point to investigate how the war effort and space race expanded the opportunities available to female scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.  We will then examine how the role of women in science and technology – and science and technology itself – has changed since that time.  At the end of the semester, we will look into some current research “frontiers” in science and technology and the scientists working in those areas.  Grades will be based on attendance, class participation, short written responses to readings and classroom discussions, and class presentations.

Description of Dr. Cynthia Farthing's fall 2018 First Year Seminar.

Women in Science

Links to Explore

Iowa and the Space Program

Databases

Women in Science Books