Universität Wien

230164 SE Exploring research-in-the-making: Excursions into different knowledge cultures (2013W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 23 - Soziologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Please note: Additionally to the lecture dates, there are excursions on 31 Oct (9-11:00), 21 Nov (9:30-11:30), and 12 Dec (9:30-11:30).
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 03.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 17.10. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 24.10. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 07.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 28.11. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 05.12. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 09.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 16.01. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 23.01. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

'Science and Technology Studies' (STS) have a long tradition of exploring the specific production processes of scientific knowledge that often is presented as detached from the socio, cultural or economic contexts. STS-scholars have studied scientists like anthropologists who followed the representatives of diverse epistemic cultures into their every day lives and visited laboratories in order to study the material cultures and local embeddedness of scientific practices. By pointing out the specific conditions of the manufacturing of scientific 'facts' they challenged the authority of science and its claim for objectivity.
In this seminar we will visit researchers in their working environment and thus have the opportunity to observe and discuss how scientific knowledge is shaped by practices, by locations and by technologies - and last but not least by the humans who are making use of them, who interact with each other, share some premises on their work and decide which kinds of research questions are considered as worthwhile to pursue.

Assessment and permitted materials

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The seminar aims at establishing sensitivity towards shared elements of scientific work as well as different knowledge production processes and styles in scientific research in order to enable the development of personal research interests and research questions within the master studies courses Science-Technology-Society. Beyond this, it is open to all students interested in knowledge production processes.

Examination topics

Central to this seminar are excursions to research institutions. We will explore 'research-in- the-making' by visiting and meeting researchers in their working environment and by investigating the conditions and requirements of knowledge production: What do scientists do? How do they do it? How do their results find its public(s)? What is an interesting approach from an STS perspective?
With the help of selected literature and institutional and autobiographical background information participants will have to prepare each excursion and to reflect their experiences afterwards. Students are encouraged to experiment with the multi-medial documentation and presentation of their observations.
Furthermore, this seminar offers a glance at the heterogeneity of contemporary research cultures, respective methodological and discursive practices. We will explore differences and similarities of the observed fields and maybe even defy the conventions of the traditional divide into natural sciences on one hand and social sciences and humanities on the other hand.

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39