Associate Professor of Integrated Science and Humanities
Salman Hameed, associate professor of integrated science and humanities, holds a Ph.D. in astronomy from New Mexico State University at Las Cruces and a B.S. in physics and astronomy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
His primary research interest focuses on understanding the rise of creationism in the Islamic world and how Muslims view the relationship between science & religion.
His other research interests include analyzing reconciliation efforts over sacred objects and places of astronomical importance and new-religious movements (NRM). His astronomy research is focused on understanding star formation processes in spiral galaxies.
He teaches interdisciplinary courses on science and religion, including History and Philosophy of Science & Religion (with philosopher Dr. Laura Sizer); Science in the Islamic World, Evolution, Islam, and Modernity; Aliens: Close Encounters of a Multidisciplinary Kind; and co-organizes the Hampshire College Lecture Series on Science & Religion.
Salman also runs IRTIQA, a science & religion blog with an emphasis on scientific debates taking place in the Muslim world.
This seminar course will look at the way Muslims across the globe are negotiating the relationship between Islam and modern science. We will, in particular, focus on the way evolutionary biology is received in various parts of the Muslim world and what can that tell us about the interaction between culture, politics, religion, and science. Students will be expected to do research as part of the class and present their findings at the end of the semester. Countries to be discussed in the class include, but are not limited to, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and the Muslim diaspora in Europe and in the United States. Prerequisite: One class in Middle Eastern history or Middle East sociology, or Islam.
Do you have an idea for a science fiction story? Can it be developed into a short film? In this course students will develop science fiction short films that have a basis in scientific ideas from the fields of biology, astronomy, physics, or scientific ethics. Students are expected to work in small groups towards a goal of producing short films and writing an individual paper justifying the science used in their film. Students with some experience in science, film, or creative writing are welcome. Prerequisite: one science OR film OR creative writing course.
This course can be summed up as: everything you wanted to know about aliens but were afraid to ask (a scientist). The course will explore the topic of extraterrestrial intelligence from the perspective of several different fields. We will look at the history of UFO sighting claims and analyze the reliability of eye-witness testimonies, explore psychological and sociological reasons behind claims of alien abductions, and analyze the current state of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) from the perspective of astronomy and planetary research. We will also examine how film and television have shaped our view of aliens in popular culture. We will conclude the course by looking at religions that have been inspired by UFOs and extraterrestrials.
Biological evolution is often at the center of science and religion debates. While there is a broad consensus among biologists about the common descent of humans from prior species and the processes that drive biological evolution, public debates continue over the validity of evolution. According to the latest Gallup poll, 42% of Americans believe in a creationist view of human origins, and there are constant efforts by various school boards across the country to include some form of creationism in biology classes. Despite all the scientific evidence, why is biological evolution at the center of public debates today? In this course, we will look at sociological, psychological, and cultural factors that shape the public reception of evolution in the US and abroad. We will also look at the reliability of polling surveys and will conclude the course by analyzing the role of media in public evolution debate, from the Scopes Trial to the recent debate between Bill Nye and creationist, Ken Ham.
Are we alone in the universe? The essence of that question has likely been a source of inspiration since the dawn of humanity. The modern science of astrobiology is a transdisciplinary study of extraterrestrial life in the universe drawing from active research in astrophysics, biology, chemistry, and geology. A microbiologist, an astronomer, and a planetary scientist have teamed up to take you through this inter-disciplinary course, where we will look at the history of extraterrestrial debate and analyze the science behind astrobiology. We will investigate the properties of life as we know it and extrapolate these properties to consider the potential for simple life forms to exist on Mars and elsewhere in our solar system, to the possibility of intelligent life on habitable planets near distant stars, and finally the implications of extraterrestrial life to life on Earth.
Contact Us
Salman Hameed
Associate Professor of Integrated Science and Humanities
Mail Code CS
Adele Simmons Hall 218
Hampshire College
893 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002
