what is science and society course

by Dr. Hortense West 5 min read

Science, Technology & Society (STSC) examines the social contexts and consequences of science and technology. In a wide array of courses, STSC students learn to think critically about questions such as: Why does modern science look the way it does? How and why do particular technologies and technological systems emerge, expand and become obsolete?

Science and society is an interdepartmental teaching program that offers students throughout the campus the opportunity to discover the connections that link the social, biological and physical sciences with societal issues and cultural discourses.

Full Answer

What is science technology and Society course?

The Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) focuses on the ways in which scientific, technological, and social factors interact to shape modern life. The program brings together humanists, social scientists, engineers, and natural scientists, all committed to transcending the boundaries of their disciplines in a joint search for new insights and new ways of reaching …

What is the relationship between science and society?

Science and society: Societies have changed over time, and consequently, so has science. For example, during the first half of the 20th century, when the world was enmeshed in war, governments made funds available for scientists to pursue research with wartime applications — and so science progressed in that direction, unlocking the mysteries of nuclear energy.

What is the syllabus of a science course?

Science has helped society make advances in different areas through the application of accumulated knowledge. Understand how science can be found everywhere, and learn more about the advances...

What is standardized science education?

 · Course: Science Technology and Society. Course Description: Analyses of the past, present and future of science and technology in society (including their nature, scope, role, and function) and the social, cultural, political, economic and environmental factors affecting the development of science and technology, with emphasis on the Philippine setting. Course …

What do you learn in science and society?

Science, Technology and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that studies the conditions under which the production, distribution and utilization of scientific knowledge and technological systems occur; the consequences of these activities upon different groups of people.

What is the importance of studying science and society?

In other words, science is one of the most important channels of knowledge. It has a specific role, as well as a variety of functions for the benefit of our society: creating new knowledge, improving education, and increasing the quality of our lives. Science must respond to societal needs and global challenges.

What does science of society mean?

Social science is the branch of science devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of society", established in the 19th century.

Why must STS be taught to the students?

Learning with the STS approach helps students develop cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities that are fully formed from within the student. In the implementation of STS learning approach,students are required to be active.

Why is it important to learn Science and Technology and society to all college students?

It prepares them for careers in business, law, government, journalism, research, and education, and it provides a foundation for citizenship in a globalizing, diversifying world with rapid technological and scientific change.

What are the benefits of studying science?

Scientific knowledge allows us to develop new technologies, solve practical problems, and make informed decisions — both individually and collectively. Because its products are so useful, the process of science is intertwined with those applications: New scientific knowledge may lead to new applications.

What are social science subjects?

What is Social Science? Social Science is a major category of academic disciplines that study human society and social relationships. Social Science disciplines include Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, History, and Linguistics, among others.

What are the 6 roles of social science in the society?

Thus, social sciences help people understand how to interact with the social world—how to influence policy, develop networks, increase government accountability, and promote democracy. These challenges, for many people around the world, are immediate, and their resolution can make a vast difference in people's lives.

What are the 10 benefits of science?

Answer Life is become easy and comfortable through science and technology. Travelling has become easy and fast in minutes. Communication is become easy, fast and cheaper. Standard of living have increased with the increase in technology. Man have become advanced by using various new technology.More items...•

What are the example of STS?

Science-technology-and-society definition Science, technology and society (STS) is the study of the relationships between society, politics and culture. An example of science, technology and society is a study of how social media tools affect peoples politics.

What is the importance of science technology and society in our lives?

We need Science and Technology in every sphere of our life like to treat diseases such as cancer or even to book a cab or train/flight ticket. In fact, without technology (integrated with science), we cannot imagine our life per se. Wireless communication, etc.

What is STS in science?

STS is a field dedicated to studying the institutions and practices of scientists, engineers, physicians, architects, planners, and other technical professionals, as well as the complex relationships between science, technology and society. STS employs a variety of methods from the humanities and social sciences to examine how science and technology both influence and are influenced by their social, cultural, and material contexts. A major area of interest is the role of technologies and technological systems in shaping the purposes, possibilities, and meanings of human existence, from the creation of novel biological organisms to the design of urban infrastructures and the management of global risks to health, food, security, human freedom, and the environment. For more information, please see http://sts.hks.harvard.edu/about/whatissts.html.

What is STS secondary field?

The STS secondary field serves a wide range of student interests and career plans. For example: A sociologist or political scientist wants to investigate the impact of emerging technologies on the distribution of power in society.

How many STS subjects are there in a minor in science?

The Minor in Science, Technology, and Society consists of six STS subjects, including STS.004, at least one additional subject from the Tier I list, and at least one subject from the Tier II list.

What is STS in science?

The Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) focuses on the ways in which scientific, technological, and social factors interact to shape modern life. The program brings together humanists, social scientists, engineers, and natural scientists, all committed to transcending the boundaries of their disciplines in a joint search for new insights and new ways of reaching science and engineering students. The goal of the program is to set up a forum to explore the relationship between what scientists and engineers do and the constraints, needs, and responses of society.

What is STS in MIT?

It offers general subjects to introduce students to broad social and intellectual perspectives on science and engineering fields. It also offers more specialized subjects in the history of science and technology and in social and cultural studies of science and technology. Within each of these categories, students can choose both introductory and more advanced subjects.

What is STS in engineering?

Located in a major university where most people study science and engineering, STS is dedicated to understanding the context of science and engineering. STS as a Second Major. Joint Degree Programs. Minor in Science, Technology, and Society.

What is the contribution of African Americans to science, technology, and medicine?

A survey of the contributions of African Americans to science, technology, and medicine from colonial times to the present. Explores the impact of concepts, trends, and developments in science, technology, and medicine on the lives of African Americans. Examples include the eugenics movement, the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, the debate surrounding racial inheritance, and IQ testing.

How many subjects do you need to take to become a graduate student?

Graduate students are required to take at least 10 subjects and usually complete them within their first two years. Normally, all students take the following required introductory seminars in their first year:

What is historical and contemporary studies?

Historical and contemporary studies are used to explore the interaction of technology with social and political values. Emphasis on how technological devices, structures, and systems influence the organization of society and the behavior of its members.

What is the course description of science and technology?

Course Description: Analyses of the past, present and future of science and technology in society (including their nature, scope, role, and function) and the social, cultural, political, economic and environmental factors affecting the development of science and technology, with emphasis on the Philippine setting.

What are the main themes of STS?

For the purpose of brevity and clarity the term Science will be used for Science and Technology. The four main themes and one for Special Topics: Science History, Society and Philosophy. Science in Daily Life.

How does science respond to society?

Science responds to the needs and interests of the societies in which it takes place. A topic that meets a societal need or promises to garner the attention of society is often more likely to be picked up as a research topic than an obscure question with little prospect for a larger impact. For example, over the last 15 years, science has responded to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with a massive research effort. This research has addressed HIV in particular, but has also increased our understanding of viral in-fections in general. Society’s desire to slow the spread of HIV and develop effective vaccines and treatments has focused scientific research, which improves our under-standings of the immune system and how it interacts with viruses, drugs, and second-ary infections. Science is done by people, and those people are often sensitive to the needs and interests of the world around them, whether the desired impact is more al-truistic, more economic, or a combination of the two, as demonstrated in the example below.

Can science be done without money?

Some science can be done without much money at all. You can make careful observa-tions of the sparrows in your backyard and do real scientific research on a shoestring, but many research topics in science are not so cheaply addressed. For example, scien-tists are eagerly awaiting the answers to key questions in particle physics, which they hope will come from a multi-billion dollar particle accelerator scheduled to be opera-tional in 2009. Of course, most scientific research doesn’t cost billions of dollars—but neither is it free.

image

Aims

Foundations

  • STS is a field dedicated to studying the institutions and practices of scientists, engineers, physicians, architects, planners, and other technical professionals, as well as the complex relationships between science, technology and society. STS employs a variety of methods from the humanities and social sciences to examine how science and technolog...
See more on gsas.harvard.edu

Advising

  • Interested students should first consult with a member of the Executive Committee for the STS Secondary Field, who will serve as the student’s primary advisor. In case of doubt, the student should turn to the Secondary Field director, Sheila Jasanoff. Students may then be referred to an appropriate Faculty Affiliate in their Department or School for further advice. Courses required f…
See more on gsas.harvard.edu

Registration

  • Students should register for the Secondary Field with the STS Program at the Harvard Kennedy School by e-mailing [email protected] further information.
See more on gsas.harvard.edu

Requirements

  • Course Requirements
    Students will be required to take four courses (16 credits), distributed as follows: (i) One framing coursefrom Annex 1, Section (i). These are general courses offering an overview of STS theories and methods, as well as a broad orientation to the field. Students may take additional framing c…
  • Other Requirements
    In the course of their PhD studies at Harvard, students in the humanities and social sciences must present a talk in the STS Circle sponsored by the Kennedy School’s STS Program with support from GSAS. This talk should demonstrate the student’s capacity to present an original, theoretic…
See more on gsas.harvard.edu

STS Courses For Secondary Field

  • (i) Framing Courses(offering foundational introduction to the field) 1. IGA-513. Science, Power and Politics (HKS, offered each fall) 2. IGA-956Y : Science, Technology, and Society: Research Seminar 3. History of Science 200, Knowing the World: An Introduction to the History of Science (FAS) (ii) Methods Courses (deepening specialist knowledge in field) 1. African and African Ame…
See more on gsas.harvard.edu