Admission requirements
Admission is conditional on completing Basecamp, Camp I and Camp II
A knowledge of Dutch is not necessary
Description
Can life sciences and biotechnology save the planet? Quite likely, yes! Major societal and environmental challenges, such as energy, food safety and global health, are being tackled in research labs around the world. The biotechnological solutions that emerge are transforming existing industries and giving rise to new ones. In this module, we will examine innovation in the life sciences with respect to environmental challenges and the move to a bio-based economy: Examples of biotechnological innovations range from modifications of biological organisms or systems to low-cost/high-tech interventions developed in collaboration with local communities or grassroot movements. We will discuss these issues with contributions from the biotech industry as well as from practitioners from the DIY biology movement and the fields of art and design. We will also discuss the impact of regulation and legislation specific to life (cf. patent law on life and the commons).
The module will emphasize the value of alternative perspectives on technological innovation involving living systems. Innovative solutions to the world’s problems do not only arise from traditional models of innovation: Open and participatory practices such as DIY biology movement, citizen science, participatory design and others may facilitate innovation with an impact on societal challenges. Many of these practices are distinguished by a commitment to social empowerment as a means to social change. As such, they are relevant not only because of the novel solutions the create in e.g. food and energy production but also because of the alternative perspectives on innovation and sustainability they promote.
Course objectives
Develop an understanding of the role of creative practices for value creation in the field of sustainability
Develop an understanding of the role of participatory practices for value creation in the field of sustainability
Evaluate the potential value of hands-on engagement with biotechnology for a deeper understanding of the complexity of biotechnological solutions
Develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how to achieve changes in organizational culture to deal with future challenges
Reflect on the challenges and opportunities of alternative innovation strategies
Timetable
In the week of Nov 3: 2 day individual seminar, acquiring content knowledge
In the week of Nov 10: 3 hour lecture
In the week of Nov 17: 2 day integrative seminar, collecting feedback
In the week of Nov 24: 3 hour lecture
In the week of Dec1: 3 hour lecture
In the week of Dec 8: 2 day integrative seminar, collecting feedback
In the week of Dec 8: 3 hour lecture
Mode of instruction
Seminars, workshops, expert lectures
Assessment method
Obligatory attendance of the lectures and work groups ( Pass or Fail);
Group assignments(30%);
Individual paper (30%);
Summit report (40%).
Reading list
Chapters from: – Carlson, R. H. (2010). Biology is technology: the promise, peril, and new business of engineering life. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. – Asveld, L., Est, R., & Stemerding, D. (2011). Getting to the core of the bio-economy: A perspective on the sustainable promise of biomass. Available from: http://www.rathenau.nl/en/publications/publication/getting-to-the-core-of-the-bio-economy.html – Calvert, J., Schyfter, P., Elfick, A., & Endy, D. (2014). Synthetic Aesthetics: Investigating Synthetic Biology’s Designs on Nature. MIT Press. – Gabriela Méndez Cota (ed.) (2011). Another Technoscience is Possible: Agricultural Lessons for the Posthumanities. Available from:
http://www.livingbooksaboutlife.org/books/Another_Technoscience_is_Possible – Koepsell, D. (2009). Who Owns You: The Corporate Gold Rush to Patent Your Genes. John Wiley & Sons.Compendium of articles
Registration
You have to register for this course and the minor in Usis.
Contact
Sjoerd Louwaars: s.p.louwaars@cdh.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
This course is part of the minor Entrepreneurship for Society and can only be taken as part of the minor.