Undergraduate Course: Citizens and Science: public participation in science and technology (STIS10018)
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 | Public participation in science and technology can be understood as a key defining characteristic of contemporary democratic societies. But why? What factors explain this rise in the role attributed to citizens? And what are we really talking about when we speak of citizen participation? Further, who participates, when and how (and, importantly, who is excluded?). In this course students will explore, discuss and navigate the complexities of the contemporary public participation landscape using the conceptual as well as practical tools developed within the social studies of Science, Technology and Innovation. |
| Course description |
Academic description
This course will engage students in the analysis, discussion and examination of contemporary understandings and practices of public participation in science and technology from the point of view of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies. It invites students to interrogate and reflect on a development in governance that appears to constitute one of the key defining characteristics of present societies.
Outline content
The course is organised into four broad themes:
1- Why participation?
2- The critique of participation and its drawbacks
3- Modes of participation
4- The future of participation
To illustrate, in theme 3, topics could include: dialogue and deliberation, citizen science, community action, social media participation.
Student learning experience
Students can expect a thought-provoking, critical thinking course that will bring key contemporary issues to centre-stage in the classroom. The course will be taught in a weekly two-hour seminar which combines theoretical (lecture) and practical elements (active learning activities) conceived with the objective of engaging the students in thinking about citizen participation in science and technology in a variety of contexts and formats. Students will produce weekly 'participation portfolio' pieces, for which they will receive formative feedback. In-class practical work and exercises will allow experimentation, debate and critical analysis. Finally, students will write a case in support of a specific type of participation, fully argued and justified theoretically and empirically.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | The following courses will be helpful to students but not required:
Investigating Science and Society (STIS08008)
Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment (STIS10009) |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 20 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
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) |
Weekly 'participation portfolio' (300 words each week): 40%
Case in support of a specific type of participation, fully argued and justified theoretically and empirically (max 2000 words): 60% |
| Feedback |
Participation Portfolio - formative feedback returned to students on each individual piece produced;
Feedback on all assessed work (Participation Portfolio and Case for Support) shall normally be returned within three weeks of submission. Where this is not possible, students shall be given clear expectations regarding the timing and methods of feedback. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theoretical, conceptual as well as societal dimensions that underpin public participation in science and technology.
- Appraise different rationales, contexts and formats of public participation, including cross-nationally.
- Engage with current and future challenges for public participation.
- Organise, systematise and present coherent arguments on multiple themes.
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Reading List
Chilvers, J., & Kearnes, M. (2020). Remaking Participation in Science and Democracy. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 45(3), 347-380.
Collins, H., & Evans, R. (2007). Rethinking Expertise. University of Chicago Press.
Irwin, A. (2006). The Politics of Talk. Social Studies of Science, 36(2), 299-320
Lezaun, J., Marres, N. & Tironi, M (2016). 'Experiments in Participation', Handbook of Science and Technology Studies, U. Felt et al (eds), 4th edition. MIT Press. Boston, Mass.
Stilgoe, J., Lock, S. J., & Wilsdon, J. (2014). Why should we promote public engagement with science? Public Understanding of Science, 23(1), 4-15.
Strasser, B., Baudry, J., Mahr, D., Sanchez, G., & Tancoigne, E. (2019), "Citizen Science"? Rethinking Science and Public Participation. Science & Technology Studies, 32(2), 52-76
Wynne, B. (2006). Public Engagement as a Means of Restoring Public Trust in Science - Hitting the Notes, but Missing the Music? Public Health Genomics, 9(3), 211-220 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course aims at furthering students' critical knowledge, reflexive skills as well as their practical ability to conceive, design and argue for a specific type of participation. Key skills are:
Critical and analytical thinking - assessing and evaluating arguments; attribution of meaning to topics of enquiry.
Independent learning - increasing capacity for autonomous learning and development
Organisation and decision - at the level of organisation of information and decision-making in relation to formulating plans for public participation.
Communication and presentation of information - in diverse formats, with different objectives. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Eugenia Rodrigues
Tel: (0131 6)51 4751
Email: Eugenia.Rodrigues@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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