Dr Vesselin Petkov
http://alcor.concordia.ca/~vpetkov/
ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED
Course description:
This six-credit course is specifically designed for science students. It serves as a concise and analytical introduction to the most fundamental scientific ideas. The history of the great ideas in science (especially those which led to the scientific revolutions in the twentieth century), their philosophical interpretations and social implications are discussed in the lectures. As the course also consists of student presentations and discussions many of the topics presented and discussed in class are proposed by students.
The major long term objective of SCOL 270, which makes the Science College truly unique not only in Canada, is to train its students to become creative researchers prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century science. This is achieved by employing a methodology particularly developed for this purpose: mostly lectures, but also presentations and discussions, are aimed at rigorously analyzing the evolution of scientific ideas from their known original formulation to their present status; special case studies of fundamental ideas, which led to the major achievements in modern science, demonstrate the potential of exploring the internal logic of such ideas for outlining shorter paths toward scientific discoveries.
SCOL 270 provides training which combines long term and short term (more pragmatic) objectives. In SCOL 270 the Science College students learn (i) how to prepare and make professional presentations, and (ii) how to write professional critical reviews and research papers. SCOL 270 also acts as a character building course - the Science College students further develop the basic qualities which every successful researcher should possess - being well-organized, paying close attention to details, devotion, punctuality, reliability, etc.
Required Readings:
All required readings (lecture notes and public domain texts) will be emailed to all before the corresponding class. Class format mixes lectures and discussions, and it is mandatory that each text is carefully read prior to the class in which it is due.
Recommended books:
1. V. Petkov, Relativity and the Nature of Spacetime 2nd ed. (Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2009); The first edition of the book, which can also be used (for most of the material that will be covered in class), is in the library of the Science College.
Presentations:
During the first semester every student should give one short 15-minute presentation on a given subject by comparing at least two views on it; the written version of the presentation should have the structure of a critical review of the corresponding texts and should be submitted one week after the presentation. In the second semester everyone should give one 30-minute presentation. The topics should be chosen after a discussion with the instructor. Within two weeks of their talks students will have to hand in the written form (essay) of their talk. In addition to elaborating on what was presented during the talk, the essay should contain detailed references to literature used and, if necessary, illustrations, photos, equations, etc. The essays should be well-structured and should demonstrate students' ability to analyze the problems they are writing on (mere descriptions should be avoided). All papers must be typewritten double spaced. Late submissions will result in lowering the grade by five marks per day (including holidays and weekends). As papers are not returned students should keep copies of their work.
Office Hours: Monday 13:00 - 14:00 in Room SP 365.01, Science College, Loyola Campus.