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Science, Technology and Democracy
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:16
Abstract
The strains and opportunities that democratic societies face today have multiple connections to science and technology. Going beyond understanding science and technology as either a problem or solution, this class invites students to investigate the mutually constitutive relationship between science, technology and democracy.
Objective
Using frameworks and concepts from the field of Science, Technology and Society (STS), students learn to analyze the role of science, technology, knowledge, and innovation in the development and transformation of democratic societies.
Content
Working through contemporary and historical examples from different cultures, the course focuses on the relationship of democracies as a form of social order to the production and politics of knowledge. It addresses how topics central to democratic theory and practice (including expertise, institutions, legitimation, representation, communication, publics, and citizenship) have been shaped together with debates and experiences of science, technology and innovation (including quantification and statistics, digital technologies and computing, environmental science and engineering, life sciences and bioengineering, nuclear technology, and material sciences). Students learn frameworks and concepts from the field of Science, Technology and Society (STS) (including social construction, symmetry, reflexivity, framing, boundary work, expertise, and co-production) and practice applying them to novel situations to illuminate the stakes and opportunities for engaging with contemporary debates confronting democratic societies in Switzerland, Europe, and the world.
Resources
Learning Materials (Links)
- Moodle course
- Moodle-Kurs / Moodle course
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 265
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | Science, Technology and Democracy |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Doctorate Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )
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