Fall 2024 UF Quest 2 Courses

How do we grow healthy crops and sustainable food systems that support the diversity of the local communities that they serve? 

New technologies in food and medicine are amazing;  why do people oppose them, what information is real and what isn't? 

"What can we do to address societal issues?"  Namely, "How have filmmakers and educators used the horror genre of filmmaking to protest racism and promote social justice ideals?"

Humans can be created with specific “designer” characteristics, but should we? We will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.

How can each of us contribute to the effective deployment of practical technologies to improve the livelihood of people involved in food (cacao) production and that we may never directly interact with?

How can everyday people use effective communication to better understand and engage with civic life?

How do one’s culture and background influence how healthy we are and what health regimens work?

Can Europeans sustain traditional food culture, competitive levels of food production, and improve population health while achieving the goals of Agenda 2023 and the European Green Deal?

What insights can genetics provide us about ourselves? How do we navigate the study and analysis of our personal genome data? How can common genetic variations inform decisions related to disease risk, lifestyles, and behaviors?

• How do shared fictions shape the political and socioeconomic associations of ethnic groups in regions dominated by Hispanic elites?
• In what ways do stereotypes and prejudices become embedded in popular culture, and how do they justify the exclusion of certain individuals or groups?
• How do fictions portray, embed, or question stereotypes, and what impact does this have on societal norms and behaviors?
• What are the implications of these shared fictions for democracy, citizenship rights, human rights, corruption, and violence in Latin America?How can a critical examination of fictions and social behaviors lead to personal reflection, cultural and political analysis, and the development of ideas to combat stereotypes and foster inclusive societies?

What is poverty, and how can we eradicate it by synergizing economics, human capital, the environment, and human well-being?

Do humans and machines learn in the same way?

What is the nature of time and space?

How do we impact our oceans, and how do they in turn impact us?"

Can big data save the world?

How is climate change affecting the people and places within the diverse geographies of the United States?

Whose interests are served by privacy protection and whose interests are served by surveillance? How does ubiquitous data collection and use create challenges for individuals and for social structures? What kinds of limitations might be needed and why?

How do the disciplines of art and science converge in astrophotography to help us explore and express our relationship with the cosmos? 

How are shifting global economies reshaping the food systems and consumption patterns of today?

What internal and external factors are driving consumers’ food choices in response to global challenges?

In a world where some societies struggle with obesity while others face starvation, how can economic policies address the imbalance of food and nutrition insecurity?

How are emerging technologies poised to revolutionize the food system and promote equitable and sustainable consumption, and how do consumers respond?

How can we create more circular (recycle, reuse & repurpose) food systems and evaluate the benefits and costs to society from our decisions to use scarce resources sustainably?”

Are plants crying out for help and we can’t hear? Do plants talk? Do plants remember? Do plants see?

In a world where the amount of data available is increasing exponentially, how best can we navigate through the data and what tools can we use to analyze and visualize all this information?

How can diet make identical twins so different, and what about unalike people?

How can we measure and describe climate change based on available empirical data?

"What can we do to address societal issues?"  Namely, "How have filmmakers and educators used the horror genre of filmmaking to protest racism and promote social justice ideals?" 

Humans can be created with specific “designer” characteristics, but should we? We will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.

What insights can genetics provide us about ourselves? How do we navigate the study and analysis of our personal genome data? How can common genetic variations inform decisions related to disease risk, lifestyles, and behaviors?

What do we eat, and how can we eat for a more sustainable future?