How do our actions reverberate in an unpredictable world? The insight at the heart of the so-called ‘butterfly effect’ is that decisions made in one place can produce unintended consequences felt far away. This cluster invites students to test the theory of the butterfly effect. How, for instance, did ripples from the American Revolution affect the world (and vice versa)? How did plants contribute to the great injustices of colonial empires that continue to plague us today? How has investigative neighborhood reporting transformed what we know? How do global markets interact with local prosperity and inequality? Drawing on insights from diverse disciplines, students in this cluster will gain the tools to better understand how small actions can have large impacts in our ever more inter-connected world.
This cluster will be offered throughout 2024-26.
