• Jobin Anna

• Jobin Anna

The course provides an introduction to major theoretical and analytical perspectives and approaches in STS (which stands for Science & Technology Studies, or Science, Technology, Society, depending on who you ask).

Week 1: Introduction to STS
Topic: What is STS? Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of STS and its significance in understanding the interplay between science, technology, and society.      

Week 2: Science & Knowledge
Scientific Revolutions, Paradigm Shifts, Expertise, Citizen Science, Situated Knowledge etc.

Week 3: Standpoints
Epistemology, Decolonial Perspectives etc.

Week 4: Technology
Social Construction of Technology (SCOT), Technological Determinism, Social Shaping of Technology, Domestication etc.

Week 5: Laboratories
Laboratory Studies, Actor-Network Theory (ANT), Actants, Sociology of Translation etc.

Week 6: Boundaries
Interdisciplinarity, Classifications, Boundary Work, Boundary Objects etc.

Week 7: Politics
Governance, Risk, Expertise, Democracy etc.

Week 8: Boundaries
Interdisciplinarity, Classifications, Boundary Work, Boundary Objects etc.

Week 9: Individual Study and Project Advancement

Week 10: Social studies of technology
Reviewing the reviews / discussion

Week 11: Maintenance & Infrastructure
Labor & Work, Fragility, Practices

Week 12: Care
Relational Perspectives, Logic of Care

Week 13: Media Technologies and Digital STS
Digital Turn, Communication, Sociomateriality etc.

Week 14: Presentations
Students present their individual projects, incorporating STS theories and methodologies to analyze specific cases or issues.

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Important note: The planning above is for information purposes only and may be subject to change. Please refer to the Moodle for the most recent version of the syllabus and for specific assignment details and due dates.

The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of foundational theories and methods in STS, focusing on its interdisciplinary nature, its evolution, and key theoretical frameworks. Students will develop scientific literacy and proficiency in understanding the interplay between science, technology, and society. They will hone their critical thinking, research, and writing skills through the production of a focused review paper of STS theories and methodologies regarding specific cases or issues, which will be presented at the end of the semester.

Grading: Participation (20%), Assignments (20%), Final paper and presentation (60%)

The reference list for this class is available on Moodle after each class.