Universität Wien

230140 SE Exploring society‘s knowledge practices (2017W)

Excursions into epistemic cultures beyond academia

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

Exkursionstermine:
23.11.2017, 09:00-11:30 Uhr: Excursion II, Umweltbundesamt
11.01.2018, 09.30-11.30 Uhr: Additional Session

  • Donnerstag 05.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 19.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 09.11. 09:00 - 10:45 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 23.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 30.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 14.12. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 11.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 18.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 25.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Knowledge is an integral part of contemporary societies. For instance, governance of communities, provision of services and infrastructures, as well as everyday interactions with our environment are based on producing, interpreting, and processing different kinds of knowledge. Thereby, scientific knowledge plays a key role. Yet, for becoming practicable and manageable, scientific knowledge needs to be adapted to the specific context of application, and it needs to be aligned with other kinds of knowledge, such as professional, experiential and embodied knowledge. How knowledge is produced, linked and used in specific societal settings is not a merely technical or ‚neutral‘ process, but it is constitutive for possibilities for action and therefore triggers specific social and political effects.

Science and Technology Studies (STS) has a long tradition of exploring the ‚how‘ of knowledge production - it does not regard knowledge production as a universal and purely cognitive process, but as an embedded and situated practice that includes social, political, practical, moral and material aspects. Thus, STS scholars have studied scientific research as a cultural activity. They were following scientists into their laboratories and observed how they interact with each other, with their material surroundings and with their research objects - like anthropologists who study a foreign culture. This specific approach allows to see how facts are produced and stabilised through practices.

In this seminar, we will look at how knowledge is produced, assessed and used in specific societal settings. For doing so we will visit selected sites and explore the knowledge cultures there and how they are constituted by the material and organisational setting, the people, and the technologies and techniques, and the shared (or contested) aims, values and assumptions. We will discuss similarities and specificities of these knowledge cultures; and we will reflect upon interrelations between societal and scientific knowledge cultures.

Based on selected literature on knowledge cultures in science and beyond and on background information about the sites, students will have to prepare and reflect upon each of the three excursions. Students will have to prepare the discussion about one of the excursions in small groups. Thereby, relating theoretical concepts and empirical observations is of central importance.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
- Read and prepare the obligatory literature
- Participate actively in the discussions in the sessions and excursions, hand in the written assignments timely
- Hand in 3 reading cards (systematically summarising and analysing a text on 2-3 pages) of the obligatory literature
- Hand in 2 short and 1 long reflection paper on the excursions (summarising observations, questions and reflections)
- Prepare the discussion of one excursion in groups (summarising background information, presenting observations and discussing them in relation the obligatory literature, prepare questions for the discussion)

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. Feedback is provided on request.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:

- Active participation, reading of the obligatory literature: 10 points, assessed individually
- 3 reading cards: 30 points, assessed individually
- 2 short reflections of excursions (2 pages): 20 points, assessed individually
- 1 long reflection of an excursion (6 pages): 20 points, assessed individually
- Preparation of the discussion of one excursion: 20 points, assessed as group work

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)

Prüfungsstoff

Literatur


Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39