ST112: Science, Technology and Society

What is STS?
Syllabus
Introductions
Blogging
 STS
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is an
exciting interdisciplinary field of study rooted
in the history, philosophy, anthropology, and
sociology of science and technology (and
medicine). It examines deep cultural roots of
our techno-scientific society and addresses
pressing public policy issues. It constitutes a
fundamental aspect of a liberal arts education
and is excellent preparation for graduate
study or future employment opportunities.
 STS is…

Interdisciplinary study of the interaction of

science and technology with society and
culture.
The realization that discoveries and
inventions are shaped by historical forces
and in turn influence values, aspirations,
events, and institutions, thus shaping the
course of history.
S and T in social and cultural context.
Both academic and activist.
 On a personal level, STS is…

Interdisciplinary education for life.

Relevant to every field of study.
A great major or double major.
A way to improve your writing and communications
skills, problem-solving abilities, and ability to adapt
to changes in science and technology.
Attractive to potential employers.
Needed at all levels, in education, government, the
private sector, and internationally.
• Can we control technology?
• Is technology predictable?
• History of technology
• Cultural uniformity or
diversity?
• Abundance or ecological
crisis?
• More or less work?
• Security or danger?
• Multiple future prospects.
Two Cultures
 Antiquity
What was known?
How was it known?
For what purposes?
Who were those guys?
Relevance of the past?
• Frankenstein
White Noise
 Themes
• Technospheres
• Play and Humor
• Top STS News Stories
• Gender, Women and Science
• Playing “god”
• Work, leisure, and technology
• GMOs
• Robots, Cyborgs
• Nanotechnology
• Weather and Climate Control
• Energy and Environment
 Activities

• Your blogs and discussion 25%

• Your three critical essays 45%
• Writing tutors:
Kelsey Naruse krnaruse@colby.edu
Alex Gucinski aggucins@colby.edu
• Research presentations 30%
• Several extra credit events possible 3%
 Objectives
• To develop sensitivity to and an awareness of the
pervasive influences of science and technology on our
lives and in the world around us.
• To introduce disciplinary and interdisciplinary
approaches to the study of STS, specifically by studying
the history and social dimensions of particular issues,
their scientific and technical aspects, and by debating
the often-controversial ethical choices they present us.
• To develop skills in discussion, analysis, research,
writing, and presentation in this interdisciplinary field–
and to sharpen our humor! See www.colby.edu/comedy
for related events.
 The Future
• I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided,
and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way
of judging of the future but by the past – Edward
Gibbon
•  The future ain't what it used to be -- Yogi Berra
• The future is here. It's just not widely distributed
yet -- William Gibson
 Colby STS Courses 2012-13
THE MAJOR (11 courses) THE MINOR (7 courses)

112 Science, Technology, and Society (required) 112 Science, Technology, and Society (required)

485 Technology Matters (required) 485 Technology Matters (required)

486 Craft of Research or 484 Honors (required) 486 Craft of Research (required)

Four STS courses (sci, tech, US, and international) Two STS courses

One 200-level natural science course Two STS electives

STS COURSES
Three STS 200- or higher-level approved electives

FALL
ST 112F Intro to STS (W1, Fleming)
ST 217F Feminism and Science (Peterson)
ST 258F Sociology Health Medicine (Archibald)
ST 271F History of Science in America (Fleming)
ST 285F History of Photography (Instructor)
ST 318F Philosophy of Nature (Peterson)
ST 341F Culture, Mobility, Identity (Bhimull)
ST 485F Technology Matters (Fleming)

JANUARY
ST 197J Sci, Tech, and the Cultural Cold War (Muir-Harmony)
ST 361J Substance Use and Abuse (Archibald)

SPRING
ST 245S Science, Race, Gender (Josephson)
ST 261S Sociology of Organizations (Archibald)
ST 298S Anthropology of Science Religion (Halvorson)
ST 364S Environ. Health History Africa (Webb)
ST 486S STS Craft of Research (Fleming)
"Work the clouds and sow rain to seize a bumper harvest"

(Geng yun bo yu duo fengshou, 1976).

Sample electives: AY112 Cultural Anthropology, SO 131 Intro to Sociology, CH217 Environ. Chemistry, CS232 Computer Organization, EC231 Environ. and

Natural Resource Economics, PS233 Biological Basis of Behavior, PL 317 Philosophy of Science

For more information visit www.colby.edu/sts or contact Prof. Fleming: jfleming@colby.edu

 Blogging

• Blog #1 an informal, in-class essay on STS

past and projected
• http://www.quotegarden.com/technology.html