Rice University offers courses that specifically address Black chemistry and chemistry education, while promising to also touch on “inequality” in the sciences.
Rice University, a 120-year-old university in Houston, Texas, joins CHEM 125 001Afrochemistry“” has been published in the course catalog for the spring semester of 2024.
The official title of the course was listed as “Afrochemistry: Researching Black Lives Matter.” At the time of this publication, nine students are enrolled (out of 15).
This course is available to undergraduate students and includes the following description:
“Students apply chemical tools and analysis to understand black life in the United States, and students apply African American sensibilities to analyze chemistry.A diverse range of historical and contemporary scientists; Intellectuals, Chemical Discoveries offers personal reflections and suggestions for addressing inequalities in chemistry and education.”
In addition to being billed as a Black-centered science, the description also states that the course is available to “students from a variety of backgrounds, including STEM and non-STEM fields.”
“No prior knowledge of chemistry or African American studies is required to participate in this course.”
This course also does not have a final exam.
As pointed out by daily callerthis course was specifically referenced by the famous theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss. wall street journal.
Kraus cited the class as an example of a science course that offers vague postmodern theories.
“Today, postmodern cultural theory is being injected into the very institutions expected to be the gatekeepers of science.”
Krauss then recalled a sarcastic, nonsensical article he read in 1996 that aimed to mock the social commentary injected into science.Unfortunately the article turned out like this
”[Today] “Hard science journals publish the same kind of bedding without a trace of irony,” he added.
After citing “Afrochemistry,” Kraus said that while many of these ideas have not “fully taken root” in scientific journals, they are “starting to appear almost everywhere and are gaining support and encouragement from the scientific community.” I'm getting it,” he explained.
Other examples cited by Kraus include:Observing whiteness in introductory physics: A case study“and” classChemistry on Feminism and Science as a Tool to Disrupt Unconscious Racism in STEM. ”
Kraus further explained that in some cases “dissenting opinions are not welcome.” An example was his 2021 case at Mount Royal University in Canada. I was fired For questioning whether Indigenous “star knowledge” should be included in the astronomy curriculum.
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