Universität Wien

230180 SE Hackers, tinkerers, amateurs: the politics of open science (2013W)

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

Please note: Additionally to the seminar dates there will be an excursion on Thu, 7 Nov., 16:30-18:30.
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

  • Wednesday 09.10. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 10.10. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 06.11. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 06.11. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 08.11. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 10.12. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 10.12. 15:30 - 18:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 11.12. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Hackerspaces, hackathons, fablabs, barcamps, do-it-yourself labs… a wide array of new forms and places of innovation have emerged over the past few years. In this course, we will explore these alternative spaces in which science and technology are tinkered with. We will, first of all, look at the politics of such alternative spaces. How do they decentralize, redistribute and open up innovation? How do they empower citizens and render science and technology more democratic? Second, we will closely look at the materials and equipment that are used in these spaces. Be it alternative 3D-printers, PCR machines or microscopes: hackers use, reuse, and transform various kinds of material in creative ways. Third, the question Is this really new? will be closely examined. This will be done via a historical excursion looking at amateurs in natural history and astronomy. Our seminar will be interactive and multimedia: we will discuss academic texts, comment on student presentations, visit a hackerspace, watch documentaries, discuss with hackers, and examine the objects they produce.

Assessment and permitted materials

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39