Module description
The goal of this module is to introduce students to analysis of science and technology from a social and cultural standpoint. It also introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of Science, Technology and Society (STS) – also called Science and Technology Studies – which seeks to understand how science and technology shape society and culture and how society and culture, in turn, shape the development of science and technology.
Assessment details
- 1 x Reading Journal (0%)
- 1 x 600 Word Object Mapping (20%)
- 1 x 2,400 Word Final Project
Educational aims & objectives
We will explore the history of science and its social study; the politics of objectivity; post-truth and misinformation; postcolonial approaches to the study of science and technology; thematic discussions of the science and technology of reproduction, environment, disability, finance, oncology and death.
Learning outcomes
- To be exposed to a range of key themes in the scholarship of science, technology and society (STS)
- To use STS approaches to explore broader social, cultural, and political questions
- To develop in-depth insight about a particular topic of interest
Teaching pattern
One weekly two-hour class, split into lecture and seminar/discussion.