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2024　Science and Technology for Society B

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Shirabe Masashi 
Class Format
Lecture    (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Tue5-6(S2-204(S221))  Fri5-6(S2-204(S221))  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T205
Credits
2
Academic year
2024
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2024/3/14
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

What is social responsibility of scientists? How should society govern science and technology? What should scientists communicate with citizens? Through various cases, I will have participants tackle such problems.
The aims of the course are as follows.
- To foster scientists who consider social impacts of research
- To enhance participants' awareness of various aspects of complex problems

Student learning outcomes

(1) Strengthen ability to study science from various perspectives and in a critical manner
(2) Have basic knowledge and skills to analyze case studies of STS

Keywords

social responsibility of scientists; scientific rationality; government and science

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Mainly in a lecture style.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction
Class 2 What is things called science? To have a critical perspective on science
Class 3 Science, research papers, and scientific misconduct To understand the role and structure of research papers and consider issues of research misconduct based on this understanding.
Class 4 Debate: Blood type personality theory To have an opportunity for self-reflection
Class 5 Univerisity rankings To understand the problems of quantification
Class 6 Interface between engineering ethics and science and technology studies To understand context sensitiveness of "ethical behavior"
Class 7 Case study: Minamata disease To understand relation between science and political authority
Class 8 Case study; Itai-itai disease To understand relation between science and political authority
Class 9 Case study: FBR Monju To understand relation between science and government
Class 10 Case study: Trials regarding HIV-contaminated blood products To understand relation between science and government
Class 11 Case study: Winny (P2P File-sharing software) To understand relation between science and government
Class 12 Case study: BSE scare To understand science for risk governance
Class 13 Case study: Treatment of medical waste To understand science for risk governance
Class 14 Case study: Low dose radiation after Fukushima nuclear plant accident To understand science for risk governance

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Yuko Fujigaki (eds.), Case analysis and theoretical concepts for science and technology studies, University of Tokyo Press (in Japanese)

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Lecture material will be distributed as needed.

Assessment criteria and methods

Exercise problems (40%) and a final report (60%)

Related courses

  • LAH.T104 ： Science and Technology for Society A
  • LAH.T304 ： Science and Technology for Society C

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

None.

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