NNDK16000U Science in Society

Volume 2016/2017
Content

In this course the students will analyze, reflect on and discuss the use and misuse of scientific knowledge in the public sphere. The course will consist in a theoretical part and a practical part. In the theoretical part students are given basic theoretical tools from philosophy of science for understanding and analyzing the various roles scientific knowledge plays in society. In the practical part the students will work with a case study, preferably taken from their own scientific program. Under supervision the students are required to analyze and reflect upon the way scientific knowledge is used in the particular case- They are required to reflect upon how they can enter the debate themselves in a constructive way and they are required to draft a contribution to the debate in the form of an article in a format of their own choosing, e.g. a newspaper article, an opinion letter, blog post etc. As part of this process the students will furthermore read other students' article drafts and give constructive feedback.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

At the end of the course the student should know selected accounts from philosophy of science describing the role of scientific knowledge in the public sphere.

 

Skills

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

  • identify good and bad practices concerning the use of scientific knowledge in the public sphere in relation to a specific case
  • enter the public debate in order to respond to the use of scientific knowledge in the public sphere

 

Competences

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

  • analyze, reflect upon and critically assess the use of scientific knowledge in the public sphere
  • reflect upon his or her own responsibilities and actions in connection to entering the public debate as a scientist

A list of required literature will be posted on Absalon two weeks before the course starts. All literature will be available either on Absalon or in book stores on campus.

Knowledge of a scientific discipline equivalent to at least a bachelor degree.
Lectures, exercises, peer-instruction, writing under supervision
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 10
  • Exam Preparation
  • 79
  • Exercises
  • 21
  • Lectures
  • 16
  • Preparation
  • 80
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Portfolio exam based on 1) the student's article, 2) a report containing the student's analysis and reflections on the chosen case and reflections on the student's own article and 3) the student’s written peer feedback to at least one fellow student's article draft. The portfolio is assessed as a collected whole.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam

30 minutes oral examination based on a 1) revised version of the student's own article, 2) a revised version of the student’s report containing the student's analysis and reflections on the chosen case and reflections on the student's own article and 3) the student’s written peer feedback to an article draft from a fellow student. 

Criteria for exam assesment

To get the highest mark the student must demonstrate mastery of the relevant theoretical knowledge concerning the use of scientific knowledge in the public sphere, the student must demonstrate that he or she is capable of analyzing and reflecting upon the use of scientific knowledge in a particular case, and the student must demonstrate that he or she can enter the public debate in a constructive and reflected way.