GE 301: Science, Technology, and Society - Fall 2015 

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Course description (PDF)

Term Project Description (PDF)

Instructor

• Haldun Ozaktas, haldun [a-t] ee bilkent edu tr, tel: 1619, EE 405, Off.hours: Friday 09:40-10.30

Assistants

• Damla Sarica, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, dsarica [a-t] ee bilkent edu tr, EE212, Off.hours: Mon 8:40- 10:30
• Ecem Bozkurt, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, ebozkurt [a-t] ee bilkent edu tr, EE212, Off.hours:
 

Course Materials

• Textbooks:
  L. S. Hjorth, B. A. Eichler, A. S. Khan, and J. A. Morello. Technology and Society: A Bridge to the 21st Century, second edition. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 2003. (exists in reserve: T14.5 .T44168 2003 C.3)
  W. M. Evan and M. Manion. Minding the Machines: Preventing Technological Disasters. Prentice-Hall, 2002. (exists in reserve: TA 169.5 .E93 2002)
  T. Easton. Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Science, Technology, and Society, eighth edition. McGraw-Hill, 2008. (exists in reserve: Q 175.5 .T344 2008)
  D. G. Johnson and J.M. Wetmore, Eds. Technology and Society: Building our Sociotechnical Future. MIT Press, 2009. (exists in reserve: T 14.5 .T44169 2009)
  S. Sismondo S. An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies. Wiley & Sons, 2010. (exists in reserve: Q 175 .S5734 2010)
  E. J. Hackett, O. Amsterdamska, M. E. Lynch, and J. Wajcman, Eds. The Handbook of Science and Technology Studies, third edition. MIT Press, 2007. (exists in reserve: Q158.5 .H36 2008)
  D. L. Kleinman and K. Moore, Eds. Routledge Handbook of Science, Technology, and Society. Routledge, 2014. (exists in reserve :Q175.5 .R68 2014)
  R. E. McGinn. Science, Technology, and Society. Prentice-Hall, 1991. (exists in reserve: Q175.5 .M395 1991)
  
• Required readings as given under assignments below.
• Optional readings
  The sources of most of these readings are available in the library. If you are unable to locate the source of any of these readings in the library, please contact haldun [a-t]ee bilkent edu tr

Assignments for each week

• Week 1 (10 Sep.): From Johnson and Wetmore: Introduction pp.xi-xv. From Sismondo: The Prehistory of Science and Technology Studies pp.1-11.
• Key points for Johnson and Wetmore: Introduction pp.xi-xv (courtesy of Robin Downey). -Technologies can sometimes have destructive consequences, e.g., chemical pesticides, atomic bombs, etc. (p.xi) -Different stakeholders play different roles in technology development (p.xi-xii) -Socio-technical systems take into account "material objects" and "the social practices and social relationships that make the material objects possible and useful." (p.xiii) -Innovation processes include "value decisions that will affect society." (p.xiv) -Understanding socio-technical systems can lead to better decisions around science and technology. (p.xv)
• Key points for The Prehistory of Science and Technology Studies pp.1-11 (courtesy of Robin Downey). -Two philosophers, Mumford and Heidegger, emphasize that "modern technology is shaped by its scientific rationality." (p.9) -Ellul suggests that efficiency is a core value of technology (technique). (p.9) -Hiroshima and Nagasaki inspired atomic scientists and engineers to critique military applications and produce The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. (p.10) -Science, Technology and Society (STS) studies was established in the 1970s. (p.10) -Original STS academics were interested in "promoting socially responsible science." (p.10) -STS researchers investigated how technological decisions may be made democratically. (p.10) -STS takes an "anti-essentialist" position (that is, the view that science and technology do not have an absolute form). (p.11) -STS theories emphasize that technology is socially constructed; different stakeholders hold unique views of science and technology. (p.11)
• Week 2 (17 Sep.): Take the test on http://www.politicalcompass.org/ and mark your result on the relevant chart on Political Profile Analysis (leave the remaining charts on this sheet blank).
  Take the quiz on http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html and mark you result on the printed version of the quiz.
  Also try to mark, on both charts, your understanding of the positions of at least 4 leading political parties in Turkey.
  Be sure to bring both sheets of paper to class with you. 
  Read Introduction to Political Ideologies (you are not responsible for following the links, you are responsible only for the given text).
• Week 3 (1 Oct.) From Hjorth: Part 1: Ethics and Technology: Objectives p.3, Introduction pp.3-4, Ethics pp.5-22, Doing Well by Doing Good pp.39-43, Whistle-Blowing pp.44-45, Case Study: Roger Boisjoly pp.46-47.
  Part 2: History of Technology: Objectives p.53, Introduction p.53, Conclusion p.69. Optional reading: The concept of fairness.
Optional Video: _Medieval Technology Park_
• Week 4 (8 Oct.): From Hjorth: Part 3: Energy: Objectives p.71, Introduction pp.71-77, Fossil Fuel Fundamentals pp.78-87, The Immortal Waste pp.90-100, Case Study: Nuclear Warriors pp.101-110, Solar Energy pp.120-123, Wind Power pp.124-125, Hydroelectric Power pp.130-132, Conclusion p.144. Required Video: "16 Ton", a film about mining accidents. Original is in Turkish but English version is also available. _Turkish_ _English_ _Alternative Turkish Link_ _Alternative English Link_
Optional Reading: Keeping the Energy Debate Clean  prolog,  article (both only campus access) and  Sustainable Energy
• Week 5 (15 Oct.): From Hjorth: Part 4: Ecology: Objectives p.155, Introduction pp.155-167, The Grim Payback of Greed pp.168-174, Young at Risk pp.175-182, Buried Displeasure: The Love Canal pp.191-192, Earth Day: 25 Years pp.208-214, Earth Day 2000: A 30-Year Report Card pp.226-227, 7 Moments that Helped Define ... p.228, And 7 Moments (Past and Future) that could ... pp.229-230. Also read the article "Heating System".   Required Videos (watch in this order): The Story of Stuff, Story of Change, Story of Solutions, Story of Electronics, Story of Cosmetics, Story of Bottled Water. These videos can be found at " _The Story of Stuff Project_.".   Optional: Read the articles Building a Green Economy,  Climate Change and Your Health, You are being lied to about pirates, How science is telling us all to revolt, browse the book Cool the Earth, Save the Economy: Solving the Climate Crisis is EASY.
Optional videos: _The Corporation Movie_ _The Love Canal Disaster_ _Pesticides and Rachel Carson_ _Naomi Kleinon on climate change_
• Week 6 (22 Oct.): From Hjorth: Part 5: Population: Objectives p.235, Introduction pp.235-255, The Great Leap Forward pp.256-265, Can the Growing Human Population Feed Itself? pp.273-277, World Birth Control Discussion Issues pp.281-287, Earth's Carrying Capacity: Not Quite So Easy When Applied to Humans pp.316-318, Conclusion pp.319-320. Required video: _The Decalogue I by Krzysztof Kieslowski_
• Week 7 (5 Nov.): From Hjorth: Part 6: Health and Technology: Objectives p.325, Introduction p.325, Baby It's You! And You, and You... pp.326-332, Antibiotic Resistance pp.333-334, The Politics of Life and Death: Global Responses to HIV and AIDS pp.335-342, Physician-Assisted Suicide pp.343-345, Future Genetic Testing p.346, Conclusion pp.348-349. Optional: Read the articles  The Magic Cure, The Ecology of Disease.
• Week 8 (12 Nov.): From Hjorth: Part 7: Technology and the Third World: Objectives p.353, Introduction pp.353-354, One Planet: Many Worlds pp.355-383, China's Challenge to the United States and to the Earth pp.388-394, N30 WTO Showdown pp.395-403, Pakistan: Karachi's Informal "Recycling Network" pp.404-407, Appropriate Technologies pp.411-420, Conclusion p.442. Read NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers. Optional video: How close to a train track can you set up a vegetable market? Optional reading: Research conditions in the third world.
  Go to the Codes of Ethics  page and read the titles of the links given there. Optional: Explore the other links, especially the Code of Ethics for your branch of engineering.
• Week 9 (19 Nov.): From Easton:   Issue 5: Is it time to revive nuclear power? pp.95-115, Issue 10: Should potential risks slow the development of nanotechnology? pp.196-216. Optional reading: Introduction: pp.xv-xxvii, The art of slow reading.
• Week 10 (26 Nov.): From Easton:   Issue 15: Does the Internet strengthen social connections? pp.284-303, Issue 19: Is it ethically permissible to clone human cells? pp.359-381. Optional Video:   Changing threats to privacy
• Week 11 (3 Dec.): From Evan and Manion: Chapter 1: Technological Disasters: An Overview pp.3-28.
  Chapter 2: Natural and Human-Made Disasters pp.29-43 (up to "Broken Arrows").Optional video: _Bhopal Gas Tragedy_.
  
• Week 12 (10 Dec.): From Evan and Manion: Chapter 10: The Responsibilities of Engineers and Scientists pp.317-345.
  Chapter 14: Technology Decisions and the Democratic Process pp.432-438, 444-467 (excluding "Participatory Technology").  
  
• Week 13 (17 Dec.): From Hjorth: Part 8: Technology of the Future: Objectives p.451, Introduction pp.451-453, Creating the Future pp.454-466, Trends Now Changing the World: Economics and Society, Values and Concerns, Energy and Environment pp.467-480, Telemedicine: The Health System of Tomorrow pp.486-488, New Horizons of Information Technology pp.498-501, Future Ecology: Is the Kyoto Climate Agreement Still Alive Due to the Bonn, 2001 Meeting? pp.507-510. Optional: Read the article True Innovation and Technology and Inequality.
Optional Reading: _Facial recognition and surveillance_ _Cheating software_ Optional video: _Simple designs to save a life_
• Week 14 (24 Dec.): No new readings. Review for final exam.

Lectures or presentations

• Week 1 (10 Sep.): Introduction to Science,Technology, and Society
  -Lecture content not included in the exam (readings included).
• Week 2 (17 Sep.):  "Haldun Ozaktas: Political Positions and Science and Technology Issues." Optionally explore the chart Left versus Right (leftright_EU_1416.gif)
  -Included in the exam
• Week 3 (1 Oct.):   "Haldun Ozaktas: History of Technology." Optional videos: 1999 A.D.: Shopping from Home, Kitchen of the Future . Optional reading: _Our Comrade the Electron_ . Optional slide show: Mechanical Miracles of the 21st century.Optional reading:  Technological Predictions
  -Included in the exam
• Week 4 (8 Oct.):  Mining and Energy.
  -Included in the exam
• Week 5 (15 Oct.):  Environmental Isssues
  -Included in the exam
• Week 6 (22 Oct.):  Population Issues and "The Decalogue I"
  -Included in the exam
• Week 7 (5 Nov.):  Health and Technology
  -Included in the exam
• Week 8 (12 Nov.): "Haldun Ozaktas: Issues in Public Choice of Technologies: Turkish Keyboard Layouts, Computer Operating Systems, Emissions Certification of Computer Monitors, Genetically Engineered Seeds and Foods, Consumer Electronics versus Healthcare Research". You may optionally read Philosophy of the GNU Project. If you know Turkish, you may optionally read the article H. M. Ozaktas and M. Akgül, Bilim camiası, sivil toplum ve kamu, açık kaynak kodlu yazılımları tercih etmelidir. TÜBA, Günce,  May 2007, pages 27--28. 
  -Included in the exam  
• Week 9 (19 Nov.):   Controversies on nuclear power and nanotechnology
  -Included in the exam
• Week 10 (26 Nov.):   Controversies on the Internet and cloning
  -Included in the exam
• Week 11 (3 Dec.):   Technological Disasters
  -Included in the exam
• Week 12 (10 Dec.):"Haldun Ozaktas: Perils of Reductionism and Quantification:  From Artificial Intelligence to Economic Theory."
  -Included in the exam
• Week 13(17 Dec.): "Haldun Ozaktas: Copyrights, Patents, and Trade Secrets. " Optional links: Teaching Copyright by EFF,  IEEE IPR Tutorial Series, Optional Video: Larry Lessig on laws that choke creativity Optional article: Monkey selfie
  - Included in the exam
• Week 14 (24 Dec.): Video Showing: "The Century of the Self"
  -Not included in the exam

Optional Links

• Ten Rules of Good (and Bad) Studying
• The Best Study Skills
• Writing guidelines booklet
• Example term paper (Note: This is a generic example only; information provided in handouts and announcements made in class take precedence over this example in matters of style and content.)
• Ethical Issues when Writing a Scientific Paper
• Plagiarism
• IEEE Citation Style
• Codes of Ethics
• Documents from previous years
• Assignments for group sections from 2013-2014 year
• AGORA Ethics and Technology
• Women and Gender in Science and Technology
• Beyaz Nokta Vakfi
• Fun Theory
• Antiuniversity
• Make Your Own Academic Sentence
• Automatic CS Paper Generator
• Become a quantum mechanic
• Discoveries Inside Science
• Media resources suggested by MoveOn
• Citizen activism tools
• A short guide to tools for citizen journalists
• Million Dollar Cinema
• The Century of the Self
• The Corporation
• Avaaz.org
• The last days of Polymath
• "We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel and the lyrics and the history behind it.

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