Social Study of Science and Technology

A photograph of a humanoid robot.

Robot. (Image courtesy of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

STS.350

As Taught In

Spring 2004

Level

Graduate

Translated Versions

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Course Description

Course Features

Course Description

This course surveys canonical and recent theories and methods in science studies. We will organize our discussions around the concept of "reproduction," referring variously to:

  1. Scientific reproduction (how results are replicated in lab, field, disciplinary contexts)
  2. Social reproduction (how social knowledge and relations are regenerated over time)
  3. Biological reproduction (how organic substance is managed in the genetic age)
  4. Electronic reproduction (how information is reassembled in techniques of transcription, simulation, computation).

Examining intersections and disruptions of these genres of reproduction, we seek to map relations among our social, biological, and electronic lives.

Related Content

Stefan Helmreich. STS.350 Social Study of Science and Technology. Spring 2004. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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