BEXP 27A00 - Sciences et sociétés

Pedagogical Goals

Innovations in science and technology have become prominent in the organisation and

functioning of modern society. Consequently, they raise a number of questions which

cannot be answered by scientists only. Beyond the sole importance of science and

technology policies, other issues (i.e. climate, health, food, urbanism and security-related)

call for a reassessment of relations between science and society.

The course is based on science and technology studies and introduces students to the

process of knowledge production through anthropological, historical and sociological

approaches.

Evaluation

The evaluation for the seminar will be composed of an individual and a collective grade:

• first, a two-hour exam will take place at the end of the week. The students will have to read

and describe a corpus of documents, following the method used during the seminars and

mobilizing the concepts acquired through the lecture. A few questions will guide them

through the analysis. (50% of the final grade)

• second, students will work in a group of 3 in order to produce an approx. ten to

fifteen-page online paper (including references) on a chosen controversy. The topics (once

validated by the seminar teacher) can be inspired by, and the methodology will follow the

one taught through, the exploration of the thematic corpus during the seminar (50% of the

final grade). The deadline is set to mid-February.