Universität Wien

233044 SE Science Dynamics (2020S)

Reconfigurations in the social and epistemic organization of science

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

  • Donnerstag 05.03. 18:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Vorbesprechung)
  • Donnerstag 19.03. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 26.03. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 02.04. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 23.04. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 30.04. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 07.05. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 14.05. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 28.05. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 04.06. 16:30 - 18:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 18.06. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Donnerstag 25.06. 17:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

How can we study science through change? How does science change? The aim of this seminar is to tackle these two questions by considering dynamics in and of science through its epistemic and social organization. While the seminar is a survey of a wide range of earlier and more recent work from science studies, sociology of science, history of science and STS, the aim is not to reach a definitive framework of interpretation of science dynamics, but rather to critically reflect on what each focus brings to understanding transformations in/of science.
We will start with viewing change in science as a quantifiable phenomenon and move to STS’ intellectual roots in interpreting change through science as sociocultural practice. We will then move to more recent interpretations of ‘broad’ entanglements of society, academia, policy and industry, only to begin teasing apart the generalizations. By considering knowledge production as spatially and temporally situated practices, we will consider the disunity of science within multiplicities of epistemic cultures and social worlds and further focus on the space and time aspects. We will continue thinking about science dynamics through the lens of co-production, bringing in numerous elements into the discussion. Finally, we will use two cases, big data in social sciences and human germline genome editing, to critically think about dynamics in science.
This course is a discussion-oriented seminar that develops a shifting focus on science dynamics from historical to recent and macro to micro analyses. It starts with a reading-intensive discussion phase, accompanied by writing of reading cards, and it moves to in-class analyses of two case studies bringing the science dynamics into understanding current changes/controversies. Finally, the students get the opportunity to choose an object of study, try to map the relevant elements within class, and focus on one of these elements to write a seminar paper on this object in line with the topic of the course.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
- Read the relevant literature prior to coming to class, and, for six of the first seven units, prepare a reading card on the assigned readings: A reading card is an important preparation for the class discussions and the seminar paper. It is comprised of three parts: (i) a short summary of the assigned readings by noting the central question(s) and argument(s), (ii) focused analysis of a chosen concept/term from each reading by noting the aspects that this concept/term opens up and what it closes down/blackboxes, (iii) comparative and critical stance towards the assigned readings. It should ideally comprise of 750 words and end with at least one question for discussion. The deadline for each reading card is midnight before the seminar unit that discusses the assigned readings and it has to be uploaded to Moodle.
- Prepare and present a mind map for the seminar paper: Mind mapping, in this seminar, is an exercise to choose an object of interest and map the relevant elements. The product is a sketch/map with an accompanying short text (approximately 250 words) that explains why the chosen object is interesting from an STS perspective (focus on science dynamics) and what the main question/focus is. This serves as a proposal for the seminar paper. Examples of topics and the details of the assignment will be discussed in class. The initial deadline for uploading the mind map to Moodle is 20.05.2020 (23:59). Upon feedback by the lecturer, a modified version is to be uploaded to Moodle on 10.06.2020 (23:59). Only the final/modified mind map will be graded. The mind map of each student will be discussed during the last two units, within which each student will have the chance to present and build her/his map further.
- Write a seminar paper: The final assignment of the seminar is a 3000-3500 word essay to be written until 31.07.2020. Potential topics will be discussed during the seminar. The mind map, following feedback by the lecturer and the fellow students during the last two sessions, is expected to be developed by the student into a critical piece. The aim of this paper is to integrate the obligatory readings and the wider STS literature in a coherent piece of writing with a specific focus/question on science dynamics.
- Participate in class: Due to Covid-19 and transition to home-learning, participation is expected to take place online. This includes answering discussion questions posted by lecturer on Moodle and contributions to the discussions on virtual meetings. The students are also expected to provide constructive feedback to each other, especially in the last two units of the seminar.

This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin for larger assignments.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

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.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:

Writing of six reading cards: 35 points, assessed individually,
feedback on request;
Preparation and presentation of a mind map for the seminar paper:
10 points, assessed individually, feedback by lecturer;
Writing a seminar paper: 35 points, assessed individually, feedback on request;
Active participation in the class discussions (during virtual meetings and on the Moodle discussion boards), including necessary previous preparations (reading assigned literature and mind map sketches of peers): 20 points, assessed individually, feedback on request;

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)

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 15:21