Social Science Lab

Imagine, you are asked to join a think tank on an urgent social problem. The think tank consists of 5 social scientists in various expert roles: academics, policymakers and representatives of pressure groups. The think tank convenes for one afternoon in order to design an effective intervention, which they present to societal stakeholders in the social problem.

Course set‐up

The course Social Science Lab is designed to prepare you for this expert role.

The first step in this process is the workshop Personal & Professional Purpose, during which you explore your motives, passion and mission and how these relate to future professional development.
Next, you choose the expert role that best fits your own personality and qualities in the workshop Active Collaboration. In this workshop, you also create experimental think tanks of five students, reflect on your strengths and weaknesses in cooperation and acquire tools for effective collaboration.

In the three subsequent Expert Sessions, you and your think tank actively acquire knowledge of and insight in three contemporary social issues that will allow you to fulfil the expert role of your choice.
During each Expert Session, you interact with three experts on the issue at hand: one social stakeholder and two social scientists from different social science disciplines (psychology, pedagogy, political sciences and cultural anthropology).

This year, the social issues are:

• Sustainability and Health

• Adults and Children in a Polarising World

• Human Aspects of Robotisation

The heart of the course is the Social Science Lab, in which all of the expertise you gathered is made productive. Here, you design an innovative and feasible intervention that contributes to a solution of a pressing social problem. At the end of that day, your think tank presents this intervention to your peers. The intensive Social Science Lab is followed up by a workshop on Dealing with Stress.

The course concludes with a festive Presentation in June, of all interventions to an audience of peers and societal stakeholders.

Goals

At the end of the course you have improved your:

• Self‐knowledge and reflection skills

• Ability to function in a multidisciplinary team

• Ability to differentiate and integrate various perspectives on a problem

• Ability to work towards solutions

• Ability to present an innovative idea to a wide audience

Assessment

Your active preparation for, and participation in each course meeting is required and attendance is
obligatory. The interventions are assessed by an expert panel and your peers during the festive
presentation.

Language of instruction

English on Tuesdays and Dutch on Wednesdays.

Number of participants

50 students per course group, think tanks consist of 5 students.

Dates

English course group:

Dutch course group: