Universität Wien

230140 SE Past-Present-Future Relations in Science and Technology Studies (2016W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 23 - Soziologie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 25 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

Mittwoch 05.10. 12:00 - 13:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Vorbesprechung)
Montag 10.10. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Mittwoch 12.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Montag 17.10. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Mittwoch 19.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Montag 24.10. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Donnerstag 27.10. 13:45 - 15:45 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Montag 31.10. 09:00 - 13:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Montag 07.11. 09:00 - 13:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

This course focuses on current thinking in science and technology studies about relations between the past, present and futures. The course draws upon concepts and strands of thinking that highlight certain dimensions of these relations, such as; uncertainties, expectations, anticipation and socio-technical imaginaries. We will discuss these concepts and strands of thinking in relation to concrete cases and examples. For instance, how are uncertainties dealt with when it comes to innovations in medical care, food production or information and communication technologies? Controversies around science and technology developments often reveal very different ways of relating to the future and the past: risk regulating authorities are often focused on estimating future risks while critical civil society groups might draw on analogies from the past and previous regulatory failures. Environmental decision making involves potential struggles over the future - how to deal with uncertainties, expected environmental impact, and anticipated environmental goods and bads from particular planned developments? What struggles over the past are involved, for instance, when environmental deteriorated areas are going to be restored, which and whose past is going to serve as a standard for the planned actions? What futures do we want, or what futures are even thinkable, given already taken descisons, built infrastructures and technological lock-ins? Has the future come to play a more important role than the past for present decision-making?

In order to explore these broad questions, we will discuss how particular strands of thinking approach relations between the past, present and futures in different ways and how this allow us to better understand struggles between key actors and concerned groups in debates over desirable futures.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:

Participation. As this is a seminar class, your active engagement is required. Mere attendance is not enough.
Preparation for each session. For most sessions (including the opening session), there is a required text. Read this and write your short reflections (maximum 400 words) before the session. These should include: a brief summary of what you see as the key points in the text, your own thoughts and/or criticisms, two questions for discussion in the class. These reflections should link the particular text to the wider themes of the course. They are to be uploaded on Moodle (http://moodle.univie.ac.at) no later than 6pm the evening before each session.
Oral presentation (15 minutes) accompanied by a 1-2 page handout, done in pairs. This should be based on one chosen case study, theme or critical debate relevant to the course. Please register for a presentation date and submit your presentation by 6pm on the day before your session. You are strongly advised to agree your presentation topic in advance with Linda Soneryd. Oral presentations will be given on October 24th and 27th.
Course paper. To complete the course, students must submit a final paper (3,500-4,000 words) addressing the main theme of the course. This can relate to the oral presentation (and feedback) but the work must be done on an individual basis. The essay title must be agreed before the end of the course (i.e. at the very latest by November 7th) with Linda Soneryd. The text must include a cover page, table of contents, and full set of references. The text should clearly state the chosen question, its relevance to the course, and the conceptual framework for the analysis. It should also reach a clear set of conclusions regarding the academic and/or policy-related significance of the paper. Papers are to be handed in via Moodle by Friday, December 2nd, 2016.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Grading Scheme
The grading scheme is based on a total of 100 points. These points will be awarded in relation to students’ performance in meeting the course learning aims in the different obligatory tasks.

Session preparation: 20 points, assessed individually
Participation: 10 points, assessed individually
Oral presentation: 25 points, assessed as group work
Final paper: 45 points, assessed individually

Minimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.

Grades
100-87 points: Excellent (1)
86-75 points: Good (2)
74-63 points: Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points: Sufficient (4)
49-0 points: Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)

Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may also be considered in the course assessment.

Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.

Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.

Prüfungsstoff

Literatur


Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39