230210 SE Making Security (2018S)
Science, Technology, and the Governance of Threats
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
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).
- Registration is open from Mo 05.02.2018 08:00 to Th 22.02.2018 23:59
- Registration is open from Mo 26.02.2018 14:00 to Tu 17.04.2018 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Tu 29.05.2018 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Thursday 19.04. 14:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Kickoff Class)
- Thursday 24.05. 13:45 - 15:45 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 29.05. 09:15 - 12:15 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Wednesday 30.05. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 05.06. 09:30 - 12:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Wednesday 06.06. 14:45 - 16:45 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Thursday 07.06. 13:45 - 15:45 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Monday 11.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Thursday 14.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Friday 15.06. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Emerging science and technology present potential problems for how states understand what counts as a security concern and what should be done about it. In this course, we work through the different ways that states think of science and technology as security concerns, how becoming concerned is tied to particular methods for governing those concerns, and how what counts as a security concern changes over time and space. We will explore a range of S&T areas (e.g. biotechnology, nuclear, cyber, and ‘mundane’ ones like string, water bottles, and phones), institutional mechanisms (export controls, norms, secrecy), and methods for handling S&T that is seen as anomalous within the existing system. Students will be central to the design of later parts of the course, where they will identify areas of S&T that they think are [not] of concern and then actively unpack the ways a state might [not] see the concern, and how to change the ways a state ‘sees’ concerns such that this area of S&T is [not] seen. The course culminates in a research paper that examines the context specificity of a technology of security concern, a governance mechanism for seeing concerns, or method for changing what counts as a security concern. Several excursions will be organized, access permitting, to international security governance bodies based in Vienna.
Assessment and permitted materials
To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
Participation. As this is a seminar class, your active engagement is required. Mere attendance is not enough.
Preparation for each session. For all sessions (except the opening session), there are required texts. Read these and write your short reflections (maximum 400 words) before the session. These reflections should include: a brief summary of what you see as the key points in the texts, your own thoughts and/or criticisms, two questions for discussion in the class. Your reflections should link the particular text to the wider themes of the course. They are to be uploaded on Moodle (http://moodle.univie.ac.at) no later than 6pm the evening before each session.
Oral presentation (15 minutes) accompanied by a 1-2 page handout, done alone, in pairs, or groups, depending on class size. Students will be asked to register for a presentation date during the first class. Please submit your powerpoint slides by 6pm on the day before your session. Oral presentations will be given during the second half of the seminar.
Course paper. To complete the course, students must submit a final paper (3,500-4,000 words) addressing the main theme of the course. This can relate to the oral presentation (and feedback) but the work must be done on an individual basis. The essay title must be agreed with the instructor before the end of the course. The paper must include a cover page, table of contents, and full set of references. The essay itself should clearly state the chosen question, its relevance to the course, and the conceptual framework for the analysis. It should also reach a clear set of conclusions regarding the academic and/or policy-related significance of the paper. Papers are to be handed in via Moodle no later than July 31st, 2018.
Participation. As this is a seminar class, your active engagement is required. Mere attendance is not enough.
Preparation for each session. For all sessions (except the opening session), there are required texts. Read these and write your short reflections (maximum 400 words) before the session. These reflections should include: a brief summary of what you see as the key points in the texts, your own thoughts and/or criticisms, two questions for discussion in the class. Your reflections should link the particular text to the wider themes of the course. They are to be uploaded on Moodle (http://moodle.univie.ac.at) no later than 6pm the evening before each session.
Oral presentation (15 minutes) accompanied by a 1-2 page handout, done alone, in pairs, or groups, depending on class size. Students will be asked to register for a presentation date during the first class. Please submit your powerpoint slides by 6pm on the day before your session. Oral presentations will be given during the second half of the seminar.
Course paper. To complete the course, students must submit a final paper (3,500-4,000 words) addressing the main theme of the course. This can relate to the oral presentation (and feedback) but the work must be done on an individual basis. The essay title must be agreed with the instructor before the end of the course. The paper must include a cover page, table of contents, and full set of references. The essay itself should clearly state the chosen question, its relevance to the course, and the conceptual framework for the analysis. It should also reach a clear set of conclusions regarding the academic and/or policy-related significance of the paper. Papers are to be handed in via Moodle no later than July 31st, 2018.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
he 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:Participation: 15 points, assessed individually, feedback on request
Session Preparation: 20 points, assessed individually, feedback by lecturer
Oral Presentation: 25 points, assessed as a group, feedback by lecturer
Final Paper: 40 points, assessed individually, feedback by lecturerMinimum 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.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:Participation: 15 points, assessed individually, feedback on request
Session Preparation: 20 points, assessed individually, feedback by lecturer
Oral Presentation: 25 points, assessed as a group, feedback by lecturer
Final Paper: 40 points, assessed individually, feedback by lecturerMinimum 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.
Examination topics
Reading list
Association in the course directory
Last modified: We 14.04.2021 00:27