Additional Information
Admission requirements
A propedeutic exam of any Bachelor’s program.
Elective students: please contact the study advisor of your Bachelor’s program for information and enrollment.
Description
This course will introduce the minor STiS. Science does not arise and exist in a vacuum, but in a specific historical, political, social, and (inter-) national context. The students will learn how the development of science and technology can be studied from a cultural, sociological and economic perspective. The main topics will include:
The rise of the research university from the 12th century onwards
What makes the 17th century scientific revolution so special?
What are the characteristics of a scientific culture?
Which theoretical frameworks can be used to understand the development of science and technology in current societies?
How can science be studied empirically rather than only philosophically?
Course objectives
The minor aims to give a thorough interdisciplinary perspective on scientific cultures as they really exist (beyond first year text book introductions), their origins, key means of expression, and roles in society. Students will gain a basic understanding of the rise of scientific cultures, their histories, and their most important institutions. The course also gives a theoretical and methodological overview of the most important concepts in science and technology studies. This will enable students to understand how science itself can be studied in a rigorous scientific way. The course will also help students to acquire a basic understanding of technological development and innovation processes.
Timetable
4 lectures 3 hours for 4 weeks
4 working group meetings 3 hours for 4 weeks
Assessment method
Obligatory attendance of the lectures and work groups
Written open question examination
Blackboard
We will use blackboard as communication platform for lecture notes, assignments and announcements.
Reading list
John Ziman, Real Science. What it is, and what it means. Cambridge University Press (2000). 385 pp.
Additional compulsory readings will be made available via blackboard or through the Leiden University Library. Supplementary reading will be encouraged throughout the course.
Registration
Registration from 1 January 2014 via Usis.
Students from other universities will need permission to register. Please send an e-mail to Sarah de Rijcke at s.de.rijcke@cwts.leidenuniv.nl.
This also holds for Exchange and Study Abroad students. For more information please see the “Prospective students website”:
http://www.prospectivestudents.leiden.edu/programmes/study-abroad/ .
Contact information
Dr. Sarah de Rijcke, coordinator minor StiS, s.de.rijcke@cwts.leidenuniv.nl, 071-5276853.