Academic Program: BS Hons

Course Title: Natural Science

Course Code: GE NS-1101
Credit Hours: 3
Semester: I

Course Description
Our world has seen a massive transformation in the past 200 years. The progress that we see around
ourselves is largely owed to the advancement in Scientific knowledge that has enabled us to harness
Nature’s resources in a multitude of ways. This progress however has come at a great cost, including a
threat to our own existence. Through this course, we will discuss some of the core challenges mankind is
facing, the scientific reasoning behind all these challenges and the actions that must be taken to create a
future free of these problems. The three main areas we will focus on include Climate Change, The Energy
Crisis and the survival of humanity in the wake of deadly viruses and infectious diseases.

Towards the end, the students will get to see the complex relationship between Science, Technology
and our Society and some future directions that promise a safer future for all of us.

Course Objectives
Through successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain the scientific principles that help understand the key challenges we are facing today
2. Describe natural systems modulating the Earth's climate, articulate causes and consequences of
anthropogenic climate change, and discuss measures to curb global greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable systems
4. Explain the working principles of various renewable systems and devices including solar
photovoltaics, wind mills, hydro power, geothermal and bio energy
5. Explain the working principle of key biological ideas including viruses and diseases, evolution
by natural and artificial selection
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the deep connection between science, technology and society

Course Outline

Week Content/Activities Learning Essential readings

objectives
Week 1 Overview
● Introduction to some key
and Framing of the
course Overview of the advancements we have made in the
course and the last 200 years and the associated
key challenges challenges that are manifesting
that will be themselves in the form of Climate
 Crisis, the over reliance on fossil
tackled. fuels and mass extinction of
various species.
Week 2- Challenge 1: The goal of this
5 Climate Change ● Intro and Framing
module is for
students to
understand how ● What’s the greenhouse effect?
several different
natural processes ● Challenges and risks of climate
interact to change
produce the
dynamic system ● Geologic History and Planetary
that is the Earth’s Processes
climate. It will
discuss how ● Oceans: How do ocean currents
human actions regulate global climate
have disturbed
these natural ● Atmosphere: How do large scale
systems which is wind patterns affect global climate
resulting in rapid
climatic change ● Ecosystems: Climate constrain
globally. The ecosystems and ecosystems impact
module ends with global climate
a focus on how
we build and use ● Projections of future climate
models to predict
future changes in ● Measuring anthropogenic
climate at various climate change
spatial and
temporal scales ● What are GCMs? Carbon
emission scenarios
● Sustainability
Week 6- Challenge 2: This module will
8 Energy introduce various ● Science of Energy: Forms of
methods of
harnessing Energy, Energy Conversion
energy through ● Sustainability of Energy Systems
renewable
systems. ● Working of renewable devices.
Working of
various How do solar cells operate?
renewable Photoelectric effect, intro to
systems semiconductors and band gaps,
Including Solar Wind energy, Wind mills, Physics
Photovoltaics, of a generator
Wind Mills, ● Energy quantification - Energy
Hydro Power,
Bio Energy, Geo needs, available resources,
Thermal Energy renewable vs nonrenewable,
and Tidal and challenges of current practices.
Wave Energy
 will be
introduced. A ● Future of Energy
contextual study
of renewables for
Pakistan will also
be studies to see
the future of
Energy in this
region
Week 9 MIDTERM

Week Challenge
10-13 3: Human survival ● What are infectious diseases.
and infectious
disease Understanding ● Types of infectious diseases
how infection
originate and how ● History of Germs, Vaccines and
human body
responds to them, Diseases
what happens if ● Evolution by Natural
the body fails to
fight them and Artificial Selection
● Why are viruses
crossing species barrier?
● Anti-biotic resistance

● Human physiological limits

● Changing interactions and new

diseases
Week 14 Science,
Technology, and ● Complex web of
Society An introduction to science, politics and social
how Science, systems
Technology and
● Development of Science in
Society intersect
certain areas, Role of Wars
● Scientific Funding

● Technological Progress
and Ethical Constraints
● Human experiences as Data
Week 15 Science,
Technology, and ● Nanotechnology and its future
Society applications in Medicine, Food,
A discussion of Computational Systems, Energy
some emerging
● Biotechnology
technologies
 which are seen as
a revolution in the ● Future of foods: Agricultural
field of science production, consumption and
including nano- nutrition
technology and
bio- technology
● Genetic Modification:
CRISPR, Gene Therapy
● Exobiology – Life and humans
outside of Earth
Week 16 The Future of A discussion of
Science: some emerging ● Nanotechnology and its future
Nanotechnology & technologies which applications in Medicine, Food,
Biotechnology are seen as a Computational Systems, Energy
revolution in the
field of science
● Biotechnology
including nano-
technology and bio- ● Future of foods: Agricultural
technology production, consumption and
nutrition
● Genetic Modification:
CRISPR, Gene Therapy
● Exobiology – Life and humans
outside of Earth

Rationale
The course is rationalized for providing foundational knowledge about the nature of science to cultivating
critical thinking skills, promoting scientific literacy, and exploring the philosophical and ethical
dimensions of scientific inquiry among students.
Teaching Methodology
Lecture-Based Teaching, Active learning strategies (problem-based learning, case studies, group
discussion, debates), Technology integration (online learning, Flipped Classroom), Virtual Labs and
simulations, Peer teaching, Team projects.

Assessment
The summative assessment will be used to evaluate student learning. The objective of the assessment will
be:
To evaluate students' overall learning and understanding of a course's objectives throughout the semester
To providing constructive feedback to students based on their performance to help them understand their
strengths and areas for improvement
Assessment Rubrics / Performance Descriptors
Quiz 10%
Mid Term Exam 20%
Assignment 10%
Final Project 10%
Final Exam 50%