Natural History of Infectious Disease

Natural History of Infectious Disease is a Natural Science class taught by Lynn Miller.

Course Description
Did you ever wonder why Jewish grandmothers who make gefilte fish from Norwegian sturgeon so frequently are parasitized by tapeworms? Maybe not, but who gets parasitized, when, and by what is highly significant to understanding the history of humankind. In this seminar we will read and think about the failure of modern (Western) medicine to eliminate most of the tropical diseases of Homo sapiens. We will also introduce the workings of Hampshire College. We will read R. S. Desowitz's Who Gave Pinta to the Santa Maria? and P. J. Hotez's Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases and other articles from the medical and scientific literature. Each student, for an evaluation, must write three essays and give one seminar on the public health, medical, social aspects of one of these parasitic diseases (malaria, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, kala-azar, Guinea worm, etc.) focusing on the disease in one particular tropical or subtropical country. You are encouraged to work in small groups on one parasite. All students are expected to participate in the seminar, to write three essays from the original literature, and to lead one seminar. During the seminar we will spend time thinking and working on the skills needed for successful college-level work: reading, study habits, seminar skills, and writing. Students enrolled at the 300 level are expected to help the 100 level students with their work. Collaborative work is expected throughout.

Learning Goals

 * Expressive
 * Multi-Cultural
 * Presenting
 * Project-based