Universität Wien
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233060 UE Science in Society Laboratories (2025W)

10.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 23 - Soziologie
Continuous assessment of course work
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. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

06. Oct Kick Off session
13. Oct Introduction
20. Oct Tutorial 1
27. Oct Mapping debates
03. Nov Tutorial 2
10. Nov Risk Governance and Expertise
17. Nov Tutorial 3
24. Nov Knowledge & Knowledge Production
01. Dec Regulating under uncertainty
15. Dec Tutorial 4

12. Jan Values & Responsibilities
19. Jan Panel Discussions
26. Jan Policy Briefs/wrapping up

  • Monday 06.10. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02 (Kickoff Class)
  • Monday 13.10. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 20.10. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 27.10. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 03.11. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 10.11. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 17.11. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 24.11. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 01.12. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 15.12. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 12.01. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 19.01. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 26.01. 13:15 - 16:30 Seminarraum 17, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Scientific knowledge and new technologies are changing our societies. On the one hand they open up new possibilities to solve societal problems. On the other hand they also raise questions that have to be discussed, decided and regulated on a societal level. Scientists from all disciplines should be able to participate competently in these discussions. In addition to that, there is hardly any societal debate or political decision-making process happening without the involvement of scientific expertise. Scientific knowledge is expected to provide orientation and to lead to better solutions. Particularly when it comes to controversial topics it is often contested what counts as relevant and reliable knowledge, which societal values should be taken into account and in what ways all of this should be included in political decisions. The capability to identify positions in controversial societal debates, to systematically analyze their relationship to scientific expertise and to give recommendations on that basis is a highly valued qualification in many areas of work (e.g. political consulting, science communication, etc. ).

In small groups, students will analyse a specific controversy during the semester. These cases are debates around urban heat, artificial sweeteners such as Aspertame, and CO2 compensation. Step-by-step and in close interaction with the lecturer and tutor, the students will learn approaches and tools to analyze these debates, apply them and receive feedback. They will search for documents, identify positions and conduct expert interviews. They will learn to prepare the results of their analyses in various formats, to present and discuss them.

What will students learn in this course?
- Concepts and tools to analyze the interplay of science, technology and society.
- The application of the newly gained skills in working on specific debates at the intersection of science, technology and society.
- The techniques of research as well as the assessment and preparation of information.
- Thinking and collaborating in interdisciplinary contexts.
- Developing the ability to reflect on one’s own disciplinary perspective.
- Developing the ability to understand and judge the entanglement of societal values and scientific expertise in the debates as well as the implications for questions of responsibility.

Assessment and permitted materials

To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
- Preparation of the readings and active participation in class
- Mapping and documentation of a debate along specific work assignments (group work)
- Writing of a contribution for a larger public audience
- Keeping a research diary

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

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The grading of the course is based on the separate assessment of different tasks on a scale of 1-5.

- Preparation of the readings and active participation in class: 20 percent, assessed individually, Feedback on demand;
- Mapping and documentation of a debate along specific work assignments (group work), regular presentation of work progress in class: 45 percent, assessed as group work, Feedback by lecturer;
- Writing of a contribution for a larger public audience: 20 percent, assessed individually, Feedback on demand;
- Keeping a research diary: 15 percent, assessed individually, Feedback on demand;

Minimum requirements
To successfully complete the course, a weighted average of at least 4,5 is required. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may also be considered in the course assessment.

If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. For more important information on grading, please see the handout.

Attendance
Please note: If you miss the first session of the course unexcused, you will be automatically de-registered. Presence and participation is compulsory (both for the course units & for the tutorials stated) - for details, see course regulation in the handout.

Guidelines for the use of AI tools
If you use AI (e.g. Chat GPT or similar software) as a supporting tool in your assignments, this should be acknowledged openly and clearly, so that the instructor is aware of where and to what extent the AI tool was used. For details, see regulation in the handout.

Examination topics

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 07.11.2025 09:07