Part1 / History of Mathematics: This course focuses on the history of premodern East Asian mathematics. The first half of the course focuses on the history of traditional Chinese mathematics and the second half on traditional Japanese mathematics, i.e. Wasan.
Part2 / History of biology and History of geology: This course gives an overview of the history of science from the 16th century to the present, paying attention mainly to natural history, astronomy, geology, and biology in Europe.
This course facilitates students’ understanding of natural science in the time and social space science develops and also in the gender viewpoint.
History of mathematics:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the social background behind the mathematics of ancient China.
2) Understand the characteristics of mathematics in the Edo period.
History of biology and history of geology:
When tracing the history of science from ancient times to the present day, it becomes apparent that modernization starts gradually in the 16th and 17th centuries and continues to the present. This course covers what position science occupied in each of these periods, and considers the position occupied by women in science. By the end of this course, students will have a deeper understanding of the "now" of science by establishing the time-axis (history) and space-axis (society) related to science through these endeavors.
History of Mathematics: history of mathematics in East Asia, ancient Chinese astronomy, traditional Japanese mathematics, wasan
History of biology and History of geology: the history of science, the 16 to 17th century, the 19th century, geocentricism, heliocentricism, natural history, geology, dinosaurs, continental drift, plate tectonics, biology
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
History of mathematics: lectures will address one theme per class. Students will write responses and questions on a card and submit them at the end of the class. Students should study the distributed material beforehand.
History of biology and history of geology: one theme will be addressed per class. Audio-visual material will be used in each class in conjunction with a lecture. Students will write responses and questions on a response card for about 5 minutes at the end.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | History of Mathematics: Ancient Chinese Mathematics | Ancient Chinese History (BC16c ~ AD1c) and its Mathematics |
Class 2 | History of biology and History of geology: Reconstruction of dinosaurs | In the 19th century, unknown animals were discovered as fossil and scientists tried to reconstruct scientifically. |
Class 3 | History of Mathematics: Ancient Chinese Astronomy | The characteristics of Chinese calendar making system |
Class 4 | History of biology and History of geology: Is the heliocentric theory scientific? | The geocentric theory explains the real movement satisfactory. |
Class 5 | History of Mathematics: Middle Age Chinese Mathematics | The knowledge and techniques of calculating polynomial equations in Chinese mathematics |
Class 6 | History of biology and History of geology: Did Galileo fight alone? | The lynx academy, the first academy in the world |
Class 7 | History of Mathematics: Abacus and Practical Arithmetic in China | The influence of invention of abacus in China AD14th century |
Class 8 | History of biology and History of geology: Please take care of usage of evolution. | What is the Darwinian theory?" |
Class 9 | History of Mathematics:Traditional Japanese Marhematics, Wasan | General history of traditional Japanese mathematics from the 17th to 19th century |
Class 10 | History of biology and History of geology: Charles Darwin, a geologist | The geologist made the evolutionary theory. |
Class 11 | History of Mathematics: SEKI Takakazu and TAKEBE Katahiro | Two mathematicians' biography and their mathematical works |
Class 12 | History of biology and History of geology: The beginning of the women geologists | Who drew the fossils, who dug fossils? |
Class 13 | History of Mathematics: Traditional Japanese Astronomy | The characteristics of Japanese calendar making system |
Class 14 | History of biology and History of geology: From the continental drift theory to plate tectonics | The beginning, death, and recovery of the continental drift theory |
Class 15 | History of Mathematics: Land Surveying in Edo Period | The knowledge and techniques of land surveying from the 17th to 19th century |
Class 16 | History of biology and History of geology:Rosalind Franklin and the DNA model research | The beginning of the women biologists |
History of Mathematics: No textbook is designated.
History of biology and History of geology: No textbook is designated.
History of Mathematics:Course materials are provided during class.
History of biology and History of geology:Toshikawa, S. and Yajima, M. 2003. 'THe adventure of Mary Anning”Asahi.
Yajima, M. and Wada, S. 2004.“The introductionof history of geology and astronomy”, Belet.
Yajima M. 2008. “The Memory of Fossils” Tokyo UP.
History of Mathematics:Students’ course scores are based on final exams (50%) and exercise problems (50%).
History of biology and History of geology:One homework assignment based on topics from lectures (40 %)
One homework assignment based on the history of science in general (40 %)
Reaction paper (20 %))
History of Mathematics:None required.
History of biology and History of geology:No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment of History of Science A is desirable.