Social Science Lab (Bachelor year 1)

Description

This course explores the interconnected and interdependent relationship between science, society and self through interdisciplinary, interactive, and playful education. We approach the social sciences as a fascinating and continuously evolving discipline, a creative space for new theory and new practice.

The course reflects on the need to align science, society, and self to address the broader and deeper challenges of the day. We examine questions such as: What are the theoretical implications of major contemporary trends, such as climate change and growing inequality? How can the social sciences enhance our capacity to interpret and navigate in the world? How does the social sciences touch upon my everyday life, and is thereby personal?

The first part of the course invites us to reflect on how we relate to ourselves and others. We embrace confusion as a first step in learning something new. We recognize our own biases. By listening deeply and speaking responsibly, we transform polarizing conversations. We explore how compassion can guide us, and what happens when compassion is absent.

The second part of the course covers major social scientific principles. We transcend disciplines in theory and practice by integrating knowledge from several disciplines. We proceed by engaging with another principle, one that has increasingly been recognized as an important criterion for thoughtful social science: reflexivity. The newly acquired theory can come to matter through our embodiment of it in the everyday, that is through praxis.

The third part of the course provides us the opportunity to address issues related to wellbeing at Leiden University. Various professionals present their perspective to unpack the complexity of this challenge. We experiment with a design template to simultaneously solve problems, shift systems and create new patterns based on values for everyone, everywhere.

In the final session, we connect all ideas covered during the course into a coherent whole in the form of an argumentative essay and an interdisciplinary think and do tank debate.

Course objectives

Through this course, we strive to achieve that students are able to:

• explain the meaning, opportunities, and challenges of major social scientific principles: interdisciplinarity, reflexivity, praxis

• provide three examples that illustrate the interconnected and interdependent relationship between science, society and self

• develop a well-reasoned argument on how science, society, and self can address the broader and deeper challenges of the day

• apply tools and practice for ethical and strategic leadership in the everyday: sourcing inner capacity for strategic action, deep listening, conscious full spectrum response model, active bystanding, feedback for growth

Course material

The material for this course comprises social scientific articles, chapters, movies, and leadership tools. We engage with a diverse body of literature, ranging from pedagogy, psychology, philosophy of science and sociology literatures as well as feminist, post-colonial, Indigenous scholarship and texts from sustainability science and intercultural communication.

Mode of instruction

Students are expected to invest approximately 140 hours for this 5 ECTS course by:

• Attending 10 sessions (participation is mandatory) – 25 hours

• Engaging meaningfully with the course material – 70 hours

• Working on the individual reflective assignments – 15 hours

• Working on interdisciplinary group assignments – 15 hours

• Working on the synthesizing, argumentative essay – 15 hours

The rule is that students can miss one session of the Social Science Lab, except for the first (Embracing Confusion) and last session (Synthesizing Knowledge).

Assessment methods

Assessment includes 4 individual assignments, 3 group assignments, and 1 individual essay.

4 Individual assignments (pass/fail)
Prior to the plenary sessions, students answer reflective questions about the course material and themselves to enhance the transformative potential of the plenary sessions.

3 Interdisciplinary think and do tank assignments (pass/fail)
During the course, students are placed in an interdisciplinary think and do tank. The tanks first submit a report that summarizes reflection on bias and leadership. The tanks next design an integrated response to issues related to wellbeing and inclusion at Leiden University. The tanks then engage in an assignment centered on experiencing interdisciplinarity in practice.

1 Individual essay (pass/fail)
For the final session, students write an argumentative essay in which they answer the following question: How can science, society, and self address the broader and deeper challenges of the day? Students present their argument to receive feedback for growth.

Language

The English language is used during the sessions and in the interdisciplinary think and do tanks. If students prefer to be placed in a Dutch speaking think and do tank, we should be able to make this work. Individual assignments can be submitted in English or Dutch.

Timetable

The sessions start at 18:00 and the session on Providing Feedback is optional.

Admission requirements

This orientation course is mandatory for students that start with the FSW Honours College track Science, Society and Self in the second semester of their first academic year. This course welcomes students from all disciplines and all walks of life.

Registration

Students do not need to register for this course. Registration is automatic when participation in the Science, Society and Self track is confirmed by email.

Contact information

If you have any questions for clarity, please contact the course coordinator at
j.p.r.buijs@fsw.leidenuniv.nl