UNSW Handbook Course - Science, Technology, Society and Environment

Science, Technology, Society and Environment - HPSC1400


	Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
	School: School of History and Philosophy
	Course Outline: See below
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Undergraduate
	Units of Credit: 6
	EFTSL: 0.125 (more info)
	Contact Hours per Week: 3
	Equivalent: SCOM1011
	Excluded: SCOM1011, SCTS1001
	Fee Band: 2 (more info)
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

Examines the relations of science and technology with societies in the modern world. The status and authority of science. Can science tell us what we ought to do? Critiques of science. Is technology applied science? What is the relation between technology and social change? The political uses of expertise. Experts and the rest of us. Issues of participation. These topics will be explored theoretically and by reference to case studies including: modern genetics and its use in agriculture and medicine; information technology, computers and cyberspace; energy technologies, nuclear and solar; technologies of everyday life.

Learning Outcomes

In this course you will become familiar with and evaluate several of the most influential ways of thinking about science and technology as basic activities of modern societies. By the time you have completed the course, you should to be able to:

Recognise and evaluate simplistic accounts of knowledge production and of technological change, and to formulate alternative treatments of those processes for yourself
Gain an appreciation of the value of historical study of scientific and technological change to current policy and economic issues, of the roles of science and technology in environmental affairs, and of their place in environmental debate
Develop confidence in written and oral expression and improve your ability to work cooperatively with others.

Assessment

Initial writing exercise - 10%
Two tutorial papers - 30% (15% each)
In-class test - 30%
Major essay (1500 words) - 30%

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