Though I don’t really have the time, I have my heart set on at least dabbling in the Zombie MOOC, “Society, Science, Survival: Lessons from AMC’s The Walking Dead” (if signing up, please use my Friend Code 6WYBAE). It started on 10/14 and I’ve just last night had a chance to take a look at it. I am a huge fan of the horror genre and especially love a well-made, convincing zombie movie or show. Of course this makes me a huge fan of The Walking Dead! The great thing about this free course is the opportunity to learn about the realities of life during a zombie apocalypse. The course, taught by professors at UC Irvine covers the following interdisciplinary topics (taken from the course page linked above):
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs—is survival just about being alive?
- Social order and structures—from the farm and the prison to Woodbury
- Social identity, roles, and stereotyping—as shown through leaders like Rick and the Governor
- The role of public health in society—from the CDC to local community organizations
- The spread of infectious disease and population modeling—swarm!
- The role of energy and momentum in damage control—how can you best protect yourself?
- Nutrition in a post-apocalyptic world—are squirrels really good for you?
- Managing stress in disaster situations—what’s the long-term effect of always sleeping with one eye open?
Why learn about a zombie apocalypse? Regardless of whether you are a zombie fan, the lessons learned are perfectly relevant for understanding and surviving any natural or man-made disaster or an outbreak of disease. It’s also an opportunity to explore human nature. Hopefully you will join me in seeing what this MOOC has to offer!
