Critical Understanding and Analysis of Scientific Research

What justifies our trust in science as a source of truth and knowledge? As students of science how can we discern and analyze the results of scientific research? What do scientists even do all day and how do they arrive at their findings?

This course will look at core proficiencies in scientific understanding that cut across scientific disciplines and provide critical foundations for understanding research practices and outcomes. Our explorations will be anchored to case studies in climate science, including examination of proxy data, climate modeling, and attribution science. However, we will focus on practices, crosscutting concepts, and core disciplinary ideas from the Next Generation Science Standards that can be broadly applied. Students will learn to read research papers, analyze and interpret data.

We will also look at the production of scientific knowledge in historical and social context, examining historical case studies, intersections of science and political policy, media coverage of scientific studies, and forms of dis and misinformation about science in today’s media landscapes.

We will have at least one guest speaker.

Prerequisites: None

Instructor: Anna Mudd

DETAILS:

Suggested age range: 13+

Outside work: Students will complete 1 to 3 hours of weekly asynchronous course content on canvas outside of class, including short readings and videos. Discussion boards on canvas provide opportunities for students to respond to course content, ask questions, and test understanding. Course work assessment, for those who elect to take the course for a grade, is based on the total number of discussion boards completed, as well as a final integration project.

When & where: Tuesdays on Zoom from 12:00-1:00 Eastern Time, Apr. 10 - June 26, 2026.

Fee: $300 ungraded/$350 graded; this includes a non-refundable registration fee of $10. We offer discounts for groups, siblings, and students who enroll in multiple classes. (Discount information.) Payment plans available. Fees waived for families with financial need.  (Waivers and payment plan information.) Questions about how classes work? Read our course FAQ.

Photo credit: Laura Fokkena