SP60372: Science and policy interactions: human, societal and environmental outcomes
[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]
| Academic Year: | 2024/25 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits: | 18 [equivalent to 36 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 360 |
| Level: | Doctoral (FHEQ level 8) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CWES 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | Before taking this module you must take SP60290 AND take SP60291 |
| Learning Outcomes: |
At the end of the unit the student will have acquired:
⢠a clear understanding of concepts that are useful in understanding how science and policy interact, and with what consequences (human, economic, social and environmental)
⢠awareness of the relationship between science, technology, policy and society, as complex and contested fields of study illuminated by different theoretical and disciplinary perspectives
⢠an ability to design, appraise and critically evaluate different ways of promoting and encouraging the effective generation of scientific understanding, and to promote its effective use to inform policy in a selected field.
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| Synopsis: | N/A |
| Aims: | The unit aims to provide students with an understanding of the following:
¿ science and technology studies, as an applied field of the social sciences
¿ how scientific research is organised, governed, and funded at different geographical levels (local to global)
¿ alternative perspectives on how (and in whose interests) scientific evidence informs and fails to inform public policy and practice, both directly and through its influence on technological and institutional change
¿ alternative ways of evaluating systems for the generation and use of science, incorporating normative ideas about responsible innovation and social performance, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The unit also aims to enable students to deepen their understanding of the above with reference to one fields of science and policy interaction. These could include economic policy and industrial strategy, public health, international development, security and disaster management and policy towards governance of earth systems including climate change mitigation and protection of biodiversity.
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| Skills: | At the end of the unit the student will be able:
¿ to apply a systematic and critical perspective to analysis of science and policy interactions, both direct and via the influence of science on technology at different geographical levels and in different contexts in a way that is informed by existing research and literature
¿ to draw on different sources of evidence (including secondary literature, case studies and personal experience) in assessing different approaches to generation and use of scientific knowledge.
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| Content: | 1. An overview of the history of science and technology studies
2. An overview of how scientific research is organized, governed and funded across different arenas (including universities, business, government) and at different geographical levels (local to global)
3. An overview of technology policy, including how scientific knowledge is disseminated and used at different geographical levels
4. Alternative perspectives on how (and in whose interests) scientific evidence informs and fails to inform policy making and implementation at corporate, national and global policy levels
5. Alternative ways of evaluating systems for the generation and use of science and technology, incorporating normative ideas about responsible innovation and social performance such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The above will be taught in part through extended case studies, covering at least two of the following: industrial strategy, public health, earth systems governance and science governance.
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| Course availability: |
SP60372 is Optional on the following courses:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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Notes:
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