CSS News 2003-04 pdf - Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences ...

In August 2003, in the window between summer and fall
classes, the Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences piloted a new
course in conjunction with the University of Idaho
entitled “Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems.”
This was an intensive, week-long immersion course in
which eight upper-level undergraduate and graduate
students and two faculty, Dr. Cathy Perillo (WSU), and
Dr. Cinda Williams (UI), visited a variety of farming,
ranching, marketing, and processing facilities in the
Inland Northwest. Some of these operations were large,
others small; some were “organic,” and others “conventional”;
some fit our pre-conceived notions of practices
and approaches—many did not!
During the days we explored the different operations
and had in-depth discussions with the farmers and site
managers. The evenings were spent in formal and
Teaching the History and
Ethics of Genetics
Most days you cannot turn on the national news or
open up a newspaper without hearing or reading
about the latest genetic breakthrough. These new
genetic discoveries, while offering great hope, in some
cases are also causing society to question what “these
mad scientists” are up to now.
As we teach the next generation of scientists at WSU,
it is imperative that we instill not only an appreciation
for history but also the idea that what we do may have
implications far beyond those that we had anticipated
for the future.
The history and ethics of genetics (Crops 512/MBios 525)
has been taught in the Department of Crop and Soil
Sciences since 1997. The class had 25 students during
Spring 2003 semester and has drawn graduate students
from the University of Idaho and three different departments
on the WSU campus during its six-year history.
The students decide which topics to cover and they have
included: eugenics (the science of human breeding);
science stars of WSU; early plant breeders; theories of
evolution before Darwin; did Mendel fake it? the
relationship between science fiction and science; gene
therapy; science and religion; and genetically modified
turf grass.
Some courses that rely on discussion rather than lectures
can result in a situation where a few students do all the
talking. That problem is overcome in this course because
the majority of the grade is based on preparation and
participation. Each student is required to enter into the
discussions and with the wide range of topics, it is rare that a student does not have
something to say.
Over the years that the course has been taught it has evolved from mainly historical topics
to now include ethical and philosophical perspectives. Students want to do what’s right
when they leave WSU and by learning of the mistakes and triumphs of the past they will
be better prepared to do so.
• Stephen Jones, Associate Professor/Scientist
What is Really Going On Out on the Farm?
informal discussions of our observations, our understanding
of “sustainability,” and understanding how our food
system works with respect to production practices and
environmental stewardship, as well as economic and social
sustainability. Student teams put together oral presentations
and subsequently turned in written analyses of their
experiences, the sites, and the insights they gained.
Students and faculty alike found the experience to be
intensive and highly valuable from an educational perspective.
In the words of one student, “We met visionaries,
realists, idealists, businessmen, healers, and vanishing
tribes.” We would like to make this a permanent course,
continue to offer it using a similar immersion approach,
and invite farmers and other agricultural professionals who
might be interested in taking it for continuing education.
• Cathy Perillo, Instructor
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