Undergraduate Course: Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment (SCSU10004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The increasing societal application of scientific and technological knowledge, rather than resolving decision-making in complex domains has often been associated with fierce public controversy. Competing claims by different specialist groups and diverging stakeholder perspectives seem to frustrate attempts to create consensus. How can we understand such controversies? How can society reach effective and democratic decisions in contested and uncertain domains? Focusing on controversies in science and technology ¿ particularly publicly visible controversies ¿ this course introduces theoretical approaches and concepts for conducting state-of-the-art research and critical thinking in this field. Example topics to be covered include: nuclear power, human stem cells, food security, climate change, biomedical knowledge, genetically modified crops, synthetic biology. |
| Course description |
This course introduces students to important social science perspectives for understanding publicly visible controversies in science, technology and the environment. Each week addresses different conceptual tools, alongside empirical examples, to enable students to study controversies. We review different types of controversies and ways to investigate them, introducing historical, sociological and political perspectives for analyzing the arguments and actors involved in controversies ¿ both within and outside the scientific community. Further, we critically reflect on normative agendas within the social sciences for not only studying but also intervening in controversies.
Outline Content
Each week introduces a different set of tools for examining controversies, illustrated by empirical cases. Approaches for studying controversies include Actor Network Theory, historical sociology, feminist theories of science and technology and frame analysis. Case studies include the Human Genome Project, cloning, geoengineering, and environmental pollution.
Student Learning Experience
The course is taught through a lecture-followed-by-seminar format. Students are required to complete 2-3 readings per week in advance of the lecture. Lectures provide students with a rich background to the readings (i.e. they do not duplicate the readings) and broaden students¿ repertoire of empirical cases. Discussion of the readings enables a deeper understanding of both the conceptual tools and empirical cases. Students are encouraged to engage in debate, including adopting competing perspectives in order to develop their critical skills and ability to convey complex ideas to an informed audience.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Have a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts used to analyse controversies
- Have detailed knowledge and understanding of one controversy in science and technology
- Demonstrate ability to use one of the frameworks/conceptual approaches to a specific case study
- Show ability to critically review and consolidate knowledge in one controversy in science and technology
- Demonstrate ability to convey the above to an informed audience
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Controversies; Science,Technology and Medicine; Policy; Public engagement |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sarah Parry
Tel: (0131 6)50 6395
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Alexander Dysart
Tel: (0131 6)51 5197
Email: |
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