Undergraduate Course: Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment (SCSU10004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| 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 |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2016/17, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 15 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment will be based on:
- a 1000 word blogpost identifying and critically commenting on a topical public controversy in any area of medicine, technology or environment (25% marks)
- a 3500 word essay (75% marks)
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| Feedback |
For both the blogpost and essay, the topic will address a controversial area of science, technology and/or medicine and is to be agreed between the student and the course organiser(s). Students can identify their own topic or can be set by the course organiser(s). The aim of the assessment is to allow you to develop your own ideas and topics, demonstrate your ability to analyse relevant issues and draw on and synthesise relevant evidence.
Formative assessment: All students are invited to submit an abstract at least one week before the deadline for each assessment, and will receive feedback from the course organiser(s), to enable students to learn prior to the summative assessment.
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| No Exam Information |
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: Sarah.Parry@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Alexander Dysart
Tel: (0131 6)51 5197
Email: Alex.Dysart@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2016 The University of Edinburgh - 3 February 2017 5:17 am
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