The world is made up of chemicals: some are natural and some are invented and manufactured by humans. New chemicals are often intended to make our lives safer and easier but may have unanticipated consequences once they are released into the world. In this course, students will discover what properties of chemicals can lead to risks for the environment and for human health. Through discussion of how chemicals in the environment are understood by scientists, and described in popular media, students will develop improved scientific literacy to better evaluate risk in their own lives.