Eugenics Today: An Interdisciplinary Teaching for Higher Education

Abstract

Eugenics involves the application of scientific practice to promote selective breeding in the human population. Notably, although considered unethical and outdated many science papers on the topic are still heavily cited. In the present study, a lesson plan has been produced for an English for Academic Purposes/English for Scientific Purposes (EAP/EScP) course in a Biology Department in Higher Education, to be held on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27th of January). In a two-fold approach, students are first introduced to the history and background of the eugenics movement and then presented with current relevant bioethics issues. In the first part, students watch video footage, discuss on archive material and are subsequently asked to produce posters and audiovisual material on seminal eugenics cases. In the second part, students are randomly assigned to one of two groups and a debate is held on the topic of embryo designing and the possible risk of a modern eugenics rise. The activities chosen for this lesson promote interdisciplinary education, student-centered practices and active learning. Importantly, the topic lends itself to the coupling of science communication and humanities, also referred to as biomedical humanities. Post-lesson responses to a questionnaire reveal that although initially largely unaware of the issues discussed here, the students form clear views on the importance of historical memory and bioethics education.