230162 VO Science, Technology, Society (STS): Key-questions and Concepts (2011W)

The aim of this lecture is to give students an overview of the basic questions and key issues relevant in the study of the relations of science, technology and society. Issues we will touch will be:
- How is scientific knowledge produced and which role do social choices and processes play?
- What is the social organisation of science and its core values?
- How did the central institutions of science evolve and how do they frame knowledge production?
- What are the relations of science and technology and how does technological innovation happen?
- How do technologies structure our ways of living in contemporary societies?
- Finally, what are the political dimensions of science and technology? Here we will look at science-society relations, the governance of science and technology, and how science and technology shape political processes and decisions.

Throughout the lecture, students will be introduced to important approaches and concepts that have been used to address these questions.

This lecture is accompanied by a reading seminar (no. 230163).