Welcome to ST 112 Science, Technology, and Society

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ST112 Science, Technology and Society

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• What is STS?
• Syllabus
• Introductions
• Blogging

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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.

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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.

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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.

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• 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.

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Two Cultures
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AntiquityWhat was known?How was it known?For
what purposes?Who were those guys?Relevance of
the past?
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• Frankenstein

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White Noise
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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

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Activities

• Your blogs and discussion 25
• Your three critical essays 45
• Writing tutors
• Kelsey Naruse krnaruse_at_colby.edu
• Alex Gucinski aggucins_at_colby.edu
• Research presentations 30
• Several extra credit events possible 3

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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.

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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

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Colby STS Courses 2012-13
THE MAJOR (11 courses) 112 Science, Technology,
and Society (required) 485 Technology Matters
(required) 486 Craft of Research or 484 Honors
(required) Four STS courses (sci, tech, US, and
international) One 200-level natural science
course Three STS 200- or higher-level approved
electives
THE MINOR (7 courses) 112 Science, Technology,
and Society (required) 485 Technology Matters
(required) 486 Craft of Research (required) Two
STS courses Two STS electives

• STS COURSES
• 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)

"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_at_colby.edu
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Blogging

• Blog 1 an informal, in-class essay on STS past
  and projected
• http//www.quotegarden.com/technology.html