ENVS 5110
Science and Society: An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies
Course Requirements and Grading
Seminar Format
The course is a seminar, which means that we each share responsibility for participation and leadership. There are a considerable amount of readings in the course and consequently the course has been structured in a way to allow for sharing responsibility for learning. The formal requirements of the course include informal weekly one-pagers, frequent opportunities for student-led classes and presentations, attendance at several outside-class events and an individual term project.
Readings
There are a lot of readings for this class, and many more will be made available for those interested in pursuing issues further. All required articles will be made available either via hyperlink (which may need to be accessed from an on-campus server). by email or from the course WWW site, and most in PDF or HTML format. If you have any difficulties obtaining the readings, please just send me an email.
There are three books that we will read for the class:
- S. Sismondo, 2009. An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies, 2nd Edition (Wiley-Blackwell).
- B. Allenby and D. Sarewitz, 2011. The Techno-Human Condition (MIT Press).
- Ian Hacking, 1999. The Social Construction of What? (Harvard University Press).
You are responsible for obtaining access to these books. Online retailers offer the cheapest as fastest means of delivery
Guest Speakers
We currently have several guest speakers/visitors lined up. These include:
- Professor Braden Allenby, Arizona State University
- Professor Dan Sarewitz, Arizona State University
- Professor Ben Hale, University of Colorado
- Professor Lisa Kerenan, University of Colorado-Denver
- Professor Jean Goodwin, Iowa State University
As opportunities allow, we may also have other guests able to join our class.
Weekly One Pagers
Every week you are expected to turn in a one-page essay. The essay will be due every Thursday to be submitted via the course email list-serv: envs5110@sciencepolicy.colorado.edu.
You might consider addressing the following two items in your submission:
- The most important thing I learned from the class discussion and/or readings was . . .
- The thing I still don’t understand is . . .
You are of course free to discuss any topic related to the class beyond these two questions as well.
The purpose of this exercise is to allow you an opportunity to discuss aspects of the readings, integrate other material with the week’s focus, or to raise questions about what was unclear or unanswered by the readings. A secondary purpose is to ensure that you have an opportunity to provide me with feedback on the readings and your progress/satisfaction in the course.
The first submission is due January 26 and the final one is due April 26. No submission is expected March 29, which is during Spring Break.
Periodic Assignments
There will be periodic assignments throughout the term. Several are already listed on the syllabus, there may be more.
Outside Events
There are a wide range of science and technology policy events always going on in Boulder. This fall we will have a seminar series organized by the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research. There is also a Center anniversary symposium in September and much more. Let’s share responsibility for announcing upcoming events in class and via the email list.
Grading
Your grade will be determined as based on your effort and performance on all of the above, plus a final exam of some sort (details TBD).
