TIK4011 - Science and Politics in Controversies on Nature
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Course content
This course focuses on the following questions:
• what is nature?
• who is an expert on nature?
• how to explain expert-based controversies on nature?
• how is lay knowledge related to expertise?
• in what ways are science and politics co-produced?
In today’s knowledge societies experts hold a key position. By definition experts are based in science but are also connected to policy and politics, by giving advice on what to do and how to behave. Experts are in the middle of things – being mediators between science and politics and between nature and culture – and try to convince others and find allies on how the state of the world actually is. The role of being an expert is innovative and complicated and sometimes implies to be part of controversies. To understand the role of experts and controversies between experts is important for understanding today’s society.
This course introduces students on how to understand expert-based controversies on nature – and their relations to lay knowledge and politics ¬ – by using tools from the field of science and technology studies [STS] . The focus is on how different cultural, institutional and historical settings are influencing expert activities and controversies on nature. It is also given attention to how nature gets shaped by social relations, not least by expert work and controversies between experts.
By the help of case studies it is asked what roles do experts and their different forms of knowledge play, and what are the relations between science, regulatory politics, the market, environmental movements and other forms of public involvement.
The role of STS is also given attention and it is suggested that “the STS-analyst” could develop a kind of interactional expertise that is helpful also in a practical way by strengthening communication between different groups in controversies on nature.
Learning outcomes
During the course students will learn
• to analyse expert work and controversies between experts on nature by using tools from STS;
• to study how science and politics influence controversies between experts;
• to situate controversies in particular locations, historically, culturally and politically;
• to attend to how nature is produced by expert work;
• to trace the roles of different actors (experts and lay people), the divisions of labour and authority, and processes of marginalization and exclusion;
• to be sensitive to the role of the analyst when study controversies on nature.
Admission
The course is applicable for master programme students from humanities/social sciences. Students passed the course TIK4001 - Teknologi, innovasjon og kunnskap have a priority, other students are admitted if there is capacity.
Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisites
A bachelor degree in Social Sciences, Humanities or equal.
Recommended prior knowledge
TIK4001 - Teknologi, innovasjon og kunnskap
Overlap
The course is equal to the first part of the course (specialisation) TIK4010, which is now split into TIK4011 and TIK4040 (Design Seminar).
Teaching
The aim of the module is
• to introduce students to the role of experts in controversies about nature;
• to introduce students to a set of case studies of controversies about nature, their cultural contexts and institutional conditions, and the interplay between different actors such as experts, regulators, environmental groups and other forms of public involvement;
• to provide students with a set of tools and resources from science and technology studies for engaging with controversies on nature;
• to enable students to analyse and discuss environmental issues and controversies as political matters, shaped and regulated by the particular forms of knowledge, values, institutions, locations and actors that get included or excluded;
• to enable students to consider how the handling of environmental issues and controversies have implications for power, distributions of wealth and chances of life.
Students are expected to take active part in discussion as well as in bringing in materials and resources from their respective backgrounds for these exercises.
Students’ presentation:
Students are asked to pay particular attention to the following when preparing for the presentation of readings in class:
- What is the research question(s) (empirical? theoretical?)?
- How is the problem and object of study framed?
- What debate or tradition/body of work is this piece inserting itself into?
- What are the analytical tools and concepts employed?
- What empirical data and methods does it build upon?
- How does it situate itself (the role of the analyst?
- What is the argument, and how it is built/developed?
The lectures will take place in a period of six weeks. There will be about 4 lectures every week.
Exam information
All students must pass the home exam essay (one week). The essay must not exceed 8000 words, including references.
Language of examination
English, if requested by exchange students, otherwise Norwegian
Assessment and grading
Students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade. Read more about the grading system .
An external auditor regularly evaluates the academic quality of the course, including the form of exam used on the course.
Explanations and appeals
Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals
Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes
Students who due to illness or other valid reason of absence were unable to write the essay, may apply for an extension on the deadline. Documentation of valid reasons for absence must be submitted.
Evaluation of this course
Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. As a student at the University of Oslo you will therefore be asked to participate in various types of evaluation of our courses, facilities and services. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of this course, a so called "periodic evaluation".
Contact us
Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture
Visiting address:
Eilert Sundts hus, 5th Floor
Visiting hours:
13:00-15:00
Postal address:
P.O.Box 1108 Blindern
0317 Oslo, Norway
Fax: +47 22 84 16 01
E-mail: info@tik.uio.no
Web: http://www.sv.uio.no/tik/english/