In a new course titled "bio-terrorism," 24 undergraduates at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., this fall will learn how to be "scientifically literate" when evaluating public policy on biological threats to the nation.
The point of Biology 204 is to show students the scientific, policy, ethical, and moral issues involved in the war on terrorism, according to Dr. John R. Palisano, professor of biology, who will teach the class.
"Every bit of the science we will discuss is already well-known among people who would wish to use it for terrorist purposes," explains Palisano. "I think it is really important for Americans to become more scientifically literate so that they can judge whether policy decisions made about bio-terrorism issues are effective or not."
The Centers for Disease Control, for example, recently decided not to inoculate all Americans against smallpox, a decision with which Palisano agrees.
"If you don't know the science behind smallpox," he explains, "you might think that the government is being derelict in its duty. But smallpox-like rabies-is a disease for which you can inoculate a person after exposure and prevent it from developing. It makes more sense to use the vaccine that way, if you have to, than to require everyone to be vaccinated."
Palisano, now preparing the syllabus for the course, says ethical and moral questions will be discussed thoroughly. The Eli Lilly Foundation has given the University of the South a $2 million grant to incorporate moral and ethical issues in courses across the curriculum. A small part of the grant is being used to help Palisano develop his new class.
It is a biology class, of course, and first the students will learn about bacteria, viruses and the toxins they contain. Then students will study the diseases bacteria and viruses cause. They will explore "patho-physiology"-how anthrax, smallpox, botulism and other disease agents cause disease.
"We will do some literature mining," Palisano says. "Students will examine papers from different scientific disciplines to see how they relate and how research in one field leads to developments in others."
Students will have to prepare "white papers" answering questions posed by Palisano. A possible example: "You are the advisor to President Bush on bioterrorism. He wants recommendations on how to protect the food supply. What will you tell him and why?"
"We depend so much on science and technology in our lives," says Palisano, a microbiologist by training. "But so many people understand so little about the science that impacts us every day. If you don't understand the problems then you can't make informed decisions about the costs and benefits of proposed solutions. We really need to become more scientifically literate and this course is a small contribution."
University of the South students seem to agree. Biology 204, open to biology majors and to non-majors, filled up quickly.
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