Ethnochemistry is the study of chemical ideas found in any culture; where an appreciation of cultural heritage is preserved. This course focuses on examining the theories and methods of ethnoscience applied to understanding indigenous understandings of chemistry perspectives as a means of developing communication approaches that bridge from indigenous understanding to scientific concepts. The ultimate goal of this class is to guide students in conducting hypothesis/theory-driven research in ethnochemistry. Students learn the different methods used in ethnochemical research, identify the major types of data commonly collected in this field and how these data are analyzed. At the end of the course students will be able to develop and test simple hypotheses in ethnochemistry and utilize their findings to develop appropriate contextual communication.
