TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Course description and aims

This course is a 1-credit course.
Only students who meet the conditions ① and ② can enroll.
① Be enrolled before 2021.
② You must have already earned one credit in a liberal arts advanced subject.
Students enrolled in 2022 or later cannot take this course.

The Interdisciplinary Collaborative Course (文理共創科目) is a newly introduced seminar-style course starting from the academic year 2024. Each session features guest speakers at the forefront of various fields who deliver lectures and engage in discussions with enrolled students. Adopting a seminar format allows for the exploration of new developments and possibilities in convergence science alongside doctoral students from participating graduate schools.

The class size is limited to 50 students per session, and if exceeded, a lottery will be conducted before the start of the class.

Group work will primarily be conducted in English, but the use of Japanese is permissible if agreed upon within the group. Facilitation and lectures by the instructor will be conducted in Japanese, utilizing the translation function on Zoom.

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The objective of this lecture is to afford graduate students in the STEM fields a platform for active engagement in critical analysis pertaining to the discourse surrounding military affairs, while simultaneously providing a forum for nuanced contemplation of the nexus between science, technology, and the military. The definition of 'military technology' and the parameters delineating its categorization represent salient and timely considerations for both the current cohort of graduate students and our esteemed alumni against the backdrop of contemporary circumstances. Through a historical exploration in the history of science and technology, this lecture endeavors to examine the intricate dynamics underlying the interface of science, technology, and military endeavors. Ultimately, the overarching objective is to foster the capacity for reasoned and grounded discourse on these subjects.

Student learning outcomes

To establish a conceptual foundation for engaging in rational discourse regarding the issues surrounding science, technology, and the military, and to cultivate the capacity for such discourse.

Keywords

Military technology, history of technology, dual-use, non-weapon military technology, space development, nuclear weaponry, radar.

Competencies that will be developed

Class flow

Online lecture via Zoom. The first half consists of a lecture by a guest speaker followed by a Q&A session. The second half involves discussions and group work based on the content of the first half (total 100 minutes).

Course schedule/Required learning

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)

None Specified

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Instructions will be given in the course of the lecture

Assessment criteria and methods

Evaluation will be based on attendance for each session and a final report. The length of the end-of-quarter report should be between 3,000-4,000 Japanese characters or 1500-2000 words in English. Grades will be determined by a pass/fail assessment, and numerical scores will not be assigned.

Related courses

• LAH.S416 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences16:History of Technology

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

The minimum requirement for enrollment is a willingness to engage in discussions with respect for diversity of opinions, regardless of ideological beliefs.