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Course Detail

Course Name Science, Technology, & Society Interactions
Course Code 25OEL642
Program M.Sc. in Social Data Science & Policy
Credits 3
Campus Faridabad

Syllabus

Unit 1

Basic concepts and perspectives: Concept of Science: Nature of scientific knowledge. Scientific method, demarcation between science and non science, Critique of modern science: scientific temper vs. humanistic temper. Emergence of modern science: Role of Scientists. Institutionalization and professionalization of science.

Unit 2

Science, Technology and Culture: Science, Technological Change and Development; Science and Politics; Public Understanding of Science and Technology; Science and Religion; Science and Ethics & Social Responsibility

Unit 3

Science and Technology in India: Development of Science in India: Pre-colonial Science; Colonial science and response of Indian Scientists; Origin and growth of scientific institutions and societies in India; Science in Post- Independent India: Role of political and scientific elites in the development of Science and Technology, Emergence of Scientific community in India

Unit 4

Structure of Scientific Research & Development Organizations: Evolution of S&T Policy; Science and Technology in Globalized world: Challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies like Information technology and Bio-technology. TRIPS; Patent Laws and Indigenous Knowledge. Consequences and Implications.

Text Books / References

Textbooks, Papers, Reference Books:

  1. Barber, Bernard (1953.) Science and Social Order. London: George Allen & Unwin. Chapter 1 The Nature of Science: The Place of Rationality in Human Society pp.722. Chapter X , The social Control of Science. pp.207-237.
  2. Ben-David, Joseph, (1965), The Scientists Role in Society: a comparative study. Englewood Cliff, Print ice-Hall.
  3. Campbell, Norman, (1952). What is Science? London: Dover.
  4. Crother, T.G. (1967) Science in Modern Society. Boston: The Cresset Press
  5. Desai, Pranav N.(2005) Challenges of AgroBiotechnologies, Intellectual Property Rights and Globalization , AsianBiotechnology and Development Review, Vol.7.(2)
  6. Gailard, J., Krishna, V.V. and Waast, (1997), Scientific Communities in the Developing Countries. New Delhi: Sage Publication. Chapter1& 3
  7. Haldane, J.B.S., (1965) Science and Indian Culture.Culcutta.New Age Publisher Kothari, D.S. (1974) Science and Man, Newdelhi: Indian Publication.
  8. Kumar, Deepak (1995), Science and the Raj 1857-1905, NewDelhi, Oxford Uni,Press
  9. Merton, Robert K. (1968). Social Theory and Social Structure. New Delhi: Amerind Publication. Chapter XVII,Science and the social Order pp. 591603., Chapter, XVIII Democratic Social Structure and Science. Pp.604615.
  10. Mack, Arien (ed.) (1997). Technology and the Rest of Culture. Columbus; Ohio University Press.Chapter.2, Social Context of Technology pp.524.Chapter, 11, Technology and Culture pp. 177184.
  11. Nandy, Ashis(ed.) (1988). Science, Hegemony and Violence: A Requiem for Modernity, Tokyo: Tokyo University Press.
  12. Patnaik, Binay Kumar (1992). The Scientific Temper: An Empirical Study. Jaipur: Rawat Publiction
  13. Rose, Hilary and Rose, Steven (1977) Science and Society. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. Snow,C.P. (1969), Two Culture: A Second Look. London: Cambridge University Press.

Optional Reading Lists:

  1. Abrol, Dinesh( 2004 )Science and Technology: Current Imperatives. Social Scientists, 32(78):7684.
  2. Adams, Robert McC (1997) Social Context of Technology in Mack, Arien(ed) Technology and the Rest of Culture. Columbus: Ohio University Press, 5-22.
  3. Adhikari, Kamini, (1987) Science Society and The Indian Transformation, Philosophy andSocial Action, Vol.XII, no.1-4, pp33-56.
  4. Avinish( 2004) Science and Society: What Kind of Mediation? Economic &Political Weekly 39(6) 713 Feb.53840.
  5. Barnes, B. (1982) The Science Technology relationship: A model and query. Social Studies of Science.12:166172.
  6. Ben-Yehuda, Nachman (1985), Deviant Science. Chicago: Chicago Uni. Press Bernal, J.D. (1948), The Social Function of Science. London: George and Rutledge
  7. Bhattacharya, Subrata (1998) Post- independent India Society and Science: An appraisal, analysis and outlook. IASSI. Quarterly. 17(2), (Oct-Dec):65-75.
  8. Biswas, S.K. 2000 Do Science and technology have a future in India. MAINSTREAM, annual (23 December)
  9. :103-104.
  10. Bronowski, J. (1956) Science and Human Values, New York: Harper Torch Books Bush, Vannevar (1945), Science: Endless Frontier, Washington. Public Affairs Press.
  11. Chattopadhyay,D.P.(ed)(1982) Studies in the History of Science in India, New Delhi: Editorial Enterprises.
  12. Chattopadhyaya,D.P.(2000), Science Values and Ethics Science and Culture.Vol,66,no.3 4.pp101109.
  13. Conant, James B.( 1954). Modern Science and Modern Man. New York: Columbia University Press.
  14. Desai, Pranav N.(1997) Science, Technology and International Co-operation. New Delhi: Har- Anand.
  15. Finocchiaro, Maurice A.( 1988). Science and Society in Newton and in Marx. INQUIRY, 31(1):103-122.
  16. Goonatilke, Susantha, (1999) Towards a Global Science: Mining Civilizational Knowledge. NewDelhi: Vistaar Pub.
  17. Irwin, Allan & Wyne, Brian (ed.) (1996) Misunderstanding science ? The Public
  18. Jagtenberg, Tom (1983). The Social Construction of Science : A Comparative Study of Global Direction of Research
  19. ,Evolution and Legitimation. Dordrecht; D. Reidel Publication.Chapter 2 What is science.pp1240.
  20. Migration in the Context of Brain Gain &Brain Drain in India. Science, Technology& Society, 2(2). PP. 34789.
  21. Krishna, V.V.( 2001). Reflection on the Changing Status of Academic Science in India. INTERNATIONAL
  22. SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL 169 (June) 231-246.
  23. Mashelker, R.A.( 2004 )National Building through Science and Technology: A Developing World Perspectives. Man
  24. & Development. 26(3) September 27-46.
  25. Merton,R.K.(1970) Sociology of Science. New York: Harper and Row.
  26. Minsky, Marvin (1997) Technology and Culture in Mack, Arien (ed.) Technology and the Rest of Culture.
  27. Columbus: Ohio University Press, 177-184.
  28. Oberai,J.P.S. (1979) Science and Culture. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  29. Paisley, Willium J. (1998 ) Scientific Literacy and the Competition for Public Attention and Understanding. Science
  30. Communication Vol. 20. No.1 PP. 70-80
  31. Pal, Yash (1996) Science in Culture and the Good Society.MAINSTREAM Annual (December,14):1519.
  32. Polanyi, Michael (1969.) Growth of Science in Society. Minerva,Vol.5(4)
  33. Singh, Baldev (ed.) (1986) Jawaharlal Nehru on Science. New Delhi: Nehru Memorial Museum and library.
  34. Visvanathan, Shiv (1997) Carnival for Science Essays on Science, Technology and Development. Delhi: Oxford University Press. Chapter 1, A carnival for Science .pp114, Chapter 4, Modern Medicine and its NonModern Critics: A Study in Discourse. pp 94-145.
  35. Ziman,J. M.(1968), Public Knowledge: An Essay Concerning the Social Dimension of Science, Cambridge: Cambridge Uni. Press.

Introduction

Prerequisite: NA Summary: Science and technology have become all pervasive force influencing almost every aspect of our daily life. The present course focuses on the increasing complexities of the interrelationship between science, technology and society. Science and technology policy of the twenty -first century is faced by challenges like emerging technology, globalization and the environmental movement. Some of the notions like objectivity, rationality, skepticism, systematic investigation, scientific temper require an understanding of how science emerged as a social institution, what role S&T plays in our society and how socioeconomic structure influences the character of modern science. This course will familiarize undergraduate students about the basic concepts and perspectives on science and technology and explore the emergence and growth of modern science and technology in India. The course will discuss issues concerning both functional and dysfunctional aspects of the impact of science and technology on society and vice versa

Objectives and Outcomes

Course Objectives:

  1. Gain understanding on the basic concepts and perspectives on science and technology
  2. Gain insights into science and technology in India.
  3. Become familiar with the structure of Scientific Research & Development Organizations

Course Outcomes:

CO1: Grasp basic concepts and perspectives on science and technology CO2: Understand science and tech within the Indian Context

CO3: Understand the structure of scientific R&D organizations CO4: Understand the impact and role of science on policy Skills:

  • Critical thinking
  • Understanding the connections between science and society

-Program outcome PO – Course Outcomes CO Mapping

PO1

PO2

PO3

PO4

PO5

PO6

PO7

PO8

CO1

–

–

–

–

–

X

–

–

CO2

–

–

–

–

–

X

–

–

CO3

–

–

–

–

–

X

–

–

CO4

–

X

–

–

–

–

–

–

Program Specific Outcomes PSO – Course Objectives – Mapping

PSO1

PSO2

PSO3

PSO4

PSO5

CO1

–

X

–

–

–

CO2

–

X

–

–

–

CO3

–

X

–

–

–

CO4

–

X

–

–

–

Evaluation Pattern

Assessment

Internal

External

Midterm Exams (2)

30

*Continuous Assessment (CA)

20

End Semester

50

*CA – Can be Quizzes, Assignment, Projects, and Reports, and Seminar

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