Prospectus

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Social Science Lab

Course
2021-2022

Admission requirements

If you start with the Honours College Science & Society track in the second semester of your first academic year you are participating in this course.

Course objectives

The course Social Science Lab is designed to prepare you as an expert who is able to design in collaboration with (other) social scientists - with input from other academics, policymakers, and representatives of pressure groups - an effective, innovative, and feasible intervention for an urgent societal problem and to present it to stakeholders in the problem.

During the course you get acquainted with the main themes of the Honours Science & Society track: 1. Sustainability and Health 2. Adults and Children in a Polarising World 3. Human Aspects of Digitalisation and Robotisation

Furthermore, attention is given to community building and connecting to your fellow students within the Honours Science & Society track and with your coach.

Time table

You will be allocated to one of the two groups:

Meeting Date Time Location
1 Monday 28/2 or Thursday 3/3 17:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
2 Monday 7/3 or Thursday 10/3 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
3 Monday 14/3 or Thursday 17/3 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
4 Monday 21/3 or Thursday 24/3 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
5 Monday 4/4 or Thursday 7/4 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
6 Tuesday 19/4 or Thursday 21/4 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
7 Monday 2/5 or Tuesday 3/5 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
8 Monday 9/5 or Thursday 12/5 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
9 Monday 16/5 or Thursday 19/5 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
10 Monday 30/5 or Thursday 2/6 18:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding
Final festival Wednesday 8/6 17:00-20:00 Pieter de la Courtbuilding

Mode of instruction

In the first half of the programme the focus is on skills needed for the expert role mentioned in the objectives above, i.e.

  • evaluating your motives, passion, and mission,

  • describing your personality and qualities,

  • recognizing and implementing a variety of tools you can use to improve your study-life balance,

  • reflecting on your strenghts and weaknesses in cooperation,

  • applying tools for effective collaboration,

  • communicating in a convincing way with policy makers about an innovative idea, and

  • being aware of the way media can be used wisely.

In subsequent sessions, experts will give insight in societal issues related to the three themes mentioned above and you will have a discussion in sub groups on a related topic with the goal to design an effective, innovative, and feasible intervention for an urgent societal problem.

During the final festival you will present your intervention plan.

We speak English during all meetings.

Assessment method

Group intervention plan and individual reflection report.

Reading list

The reading material will be announced during the course.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact: Honours College FSW

Registration

Registration is automatic when your participation in the Science & Society track is confirmed by email.