After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

…understand interdependences between science, development of technology and society

...reflect on how to shape the relationship between science, technology and society in responsible ways

…critically discuss science and technology politics

…understand how different innovation modells conceptualise the relation between science, technology and society

Many diagnosis of time say that we live in a knowledge and innovation society. But what does that mean? Which interdependences are there between science, development of technology and society? And which responsibility comes along with that for science and technology development?

These are central questions we will engage with in the lecture. The role that science and technology development have for society has been re-negotiated and re-evaluated throughout time. In the 17th century, innovation meant scary political renewal; nowadays, especially technical innovations are seen as central solutions for societal and environmental problems. It is for example legitimate to develop robots to care for the eldery or to reach zero emission mobility by a shift to green technology. Societal aspects can, however, also play a role in science and technology development when relations of power and inequalities (e.g. along gender dynamics or race) are not reflected or even reproduced.

Newer concepts assume that especially technical innovations contribute to solutions of problems most effectively when societal and environmental aspects are considered throughout their development. In order to consider all relevant persepectives, researchers nowadays work across different areas of science or collaborate with societal agents (inter- and transdisciplinary).

lecture and individual study of relevant literature

Complementing the lecture (VO), you can optionally also attend the Übung Science-Technology-Society (STS) (034.014). The lecture (VO) can however also be attended separately.

"Both courses may be taken as elective courses for the Gender and Diversity Competency Supplemental Certificate. More information about the certificate can be found here."

With the certificate Gender and Diversity Competence, graduates prove their competence in the consideration of gender and diversity aspects.

A prerequisite for issuing the certificate is the completion of courses from the following list in the amount of at least 16 ECTS.

Three courses amounting to 7 ECTS must be completed; for the remaining 9 ECTS, all courses from the list "Optional Courses" can be chosen.

A list of courses can be found here.

Email your questions to lisa.sigl@tuwien.ac.at

written exam

Registration for the lecture is not a prerequisite for participation in the examination. If the room capacity is exceeded, those persons who were not registered for the VO can be asked to leave the room.