Anthropology 455: An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies
- Wednesdays 2-5pm
- Spring 2004
- Location TBA
- Instructors:
-
Christopher Kelty
Sewall Hall 580
ckelty rice.edu
Office Hours: - Introduction
This class is an introduction to the field of "Science and Technology Studies." The premise of this class is that science and technology are an integral part of contemporary societies - and that culture, politics and economics are built in to contemporary science. Science, technology and society may therefore be analyzed together, using methods and theories of the social sciences and humanities. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of this interdisciplinary field by reading research and theoretical works drawn from anthropology, history, sociology and philosophy; some of the major innovations in the field will be studied in depth. The class will simultaneously analyze examples and problems that illustrate how to apply these works to the contemporary world. Examples will span a wide range of disciplines from computer science to biomedicine, but no prior scientific knowledge or technical expertise is assumed. The goal is for students to become skilled at analyzing science and technology from a social and cultural standpoint, and to cross some of the assumed and traditional boundaries between scientists, humanists and social scientists.
Open to advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
- Requisites
Students are required to attend all classes, complete all reading assignments, and participate in discussion. Each student will be responsible for presenting on some portion of the readings and responding to those presented by others.
The elusive, scientific fact.