ESP Biography

In this class, we will learn pharmacology: the science of how drugs work. Through worked examples, we will analyze how popular drugs or poisons affect the body and learn how these compounds work at the molecular level. By the end, we will learn a number of biochemical principles and how they intersect with pharmacology.

Science is rarely correct right away but has the remarkable ability to consistently course-correct. We’ll take a look at a few examples to see how science has been led astray in the past and how the work of diligent scientists seals these cracks. In each case study, we’ll ask the question of why it occurred - from innocent mistakes to malicious deception. We'll do this by focusing on two important but contentious areas of research: superconductivity and drug discovery. You should hopefully walk away with an appreciation for the scientific community, or at least some very niche gossip.

Science is seldom correct at first but has the remarkable ability to course-correct and reorient itself over time. We’ll take a look at a few examples to see how science has been led astray in the past and how the work of diligent scientists works to seal these cracks. In each case study, we’ll ask the question of why it occurred - from limited tools to individual deception to broader social forces. Some of the topics we will cover are the death of alchemy and the Schön scandal. You should hopefully walk away with an appreciation for the scientific community and a few good historical stories.