Technological Change is a genuinely social process: people matter!
Technological change is a genuinely social process: people matter. New technologies are made, used and maintained by people. Conversely, technologies are shaping people, society, economy, politics, world views, as well as moral and cultural norms. Technologies and societies coevolve, currently, in the past, and in the future. In the form of lectures and hands-on exercises, participants of this course will learn how to understand, evaluate and shape this dynamic in a socially and ethically responsible way. The course Technology & Society is taught by an enthusiast team of governance and innovation scholars, philosophers, and historians from the University of Twente and international guest lecturers. When you leave Twente after ten days of intensive study and debate, you will have a clear view on the options and limitations of the conscious shaping of technology in society. We are more than looking forward to welcoming you on campus in August!
The course Technology & Society is led and coordinated by dr Andreas Weber (Department of Science, Technology, and Policy Studies).
Course details
The course is divided in three larger sections:
- Understanding Technological Change: Introduction courses.
- Evaluating Technological Change: Case studies & analytical skills.
- Shaping Technological Change: A practioner’s perspective.
Learning Outcomes
- Introduction to different discipllinary fields that study technological change in society, such as governance and innovation studies, ethics and history. Our aim is to teach you how to understand technological change in society.
- Get acquainted and discuss core analytical concepts (e.g. co-evolution, socio-technical systems). In our lectures, we work with concrete examples from the fields of information technology (IT), data science, biodiversity and biotech, automation (robots), communication, health, and nanotechnology.
- Learn how to shape technological change: In the form of concrete technology assessment exercises (CTA), students will learn how to shape the course of technological change, including new technologies in an early phase of their development.
- Get in touch with renown scholars in the above mentioned fields from the University of Twente and abroad.
festival schedule
Target group
The course is designed for everyone who is interested in learning more about social and ethical aspects of technological innovation. No prior knowledge in the field is necessary. The course is round off with a 2-page reflective report to be submitted at the last day of the course. More details about the final assignment will be announced during the first meeting. The course allows students to learn from and debate with a number of national and international governance and innovation scholars. Taken together the course gives a deep insight in a vibrant field of study and practice.
Course leader & departments
Lecturers of this course are (LIST will be continously updated):
- René von Schomberg, is editor of a forthcoming international handbook on responsible innovation. He is also affiliated with the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission in Brussels.
- Katrin Hahn, lecturer @Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS), Technical University of Munich
- Ewert Aukes, researcher in the EU H2020 projects S4D4C – Using Science for/in diplomacy for addressing global challenges and InnoForESt – Smart Information, governance and business innovations for sustainable supply and payment mechanisms for forest ecosystem services
- Nolen Gertz, assistant professor of Applied Philosophy at the University of Twente and author of The Philosophy of War and Exile (2014) and Nihilism and Technology (2018)
- Andreas Weber, assistant professor, focus: Science, Technology, and Culture at the University of Twente
Course overview
- Target group: advanced bachelor students, potential master students (ideally with science or engineering background) and interested PhD students. If you are not sure whether the course is something for you, please contact the course directors.
- Credits: 2 ECTS for successfully completing the summer school
Want to know more?
If you need to know more, we have information available about the fee & programme, an admission check, registration & payment, visa, accomodation and the terms & conditions.