Science and Society

AMERICAN CULTURE STUDIES 3870

Encounters with science are ubiquitous in daily life. We read papers hailing scientists' most recent achievements. We adjust our lifestyles to their findings, and we sometimes even allow them to change our beliefs about the world. As students, we learn about the scientific method, run labs, and memorize facts and equations. This course invites students to estrange themselves from these familiar scenes by challenging some assumptions about what science is and how it works. In the course, we launch from the premise that science is itself a cultural activity, permeated by social norms and values. Surveying a rich, cross-disciplinary literature, the course thus aims to unpack the deep imbrications between science, society, technology, economy, and politics from the perspective of the field of science and technology studies.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC

Section 01

Science and Society
INSTRUCTOR: Dan-Cohen