Science, Technology and Society
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Aim and purpose
In the face of globalization and its challenge to community-based studies of cultural processes, anthropology has become increasingly interested in innovation and technologies. In order to tackle the notion of cultural complexities and organizational dynamics, students are presented to the use of ethnography and anthropology in the study and design of devices, products, services and infrastructure. The course will deal with technologies in the following ways;
1) technologies used on an individual level a) social media, algorithm and personal analytics (when people measure, track and monitor themselves) personal interest: analog versus digital medias & materialities.
2). Technical systems such as communications networks, energy infrastructure, roads, and water and waste systems, that have become sites for conducting ethnographies of contemporary development, stakeholder networks, projects and relationships.
3). Robots such as drones and welfare technologies.
Content
- Theories of organizational culture and technology
- Theories and applied cases of innovation and design anthropology Information
- Technologies and Social Life
- Technological Infrastructure and culture.
Description of outcome - Knowledge
• Explain the contribution of anthropology to the analysis of technology-culture-business relationships
• Explain the cultural principles and methods used in the development of a specific technology.
Description of outcome - Skills
• Analyse the theoretical relationships and interconnectivity between technologies, culture and human practices
• Investigate and analyze the drivers and barriers surrounding technological innovation and development, in particular their cultural dimensions
• Be able to detect cultural patterns behind data analytics and apply this insight for strategic decision making
• Undertake analysis of the ethical issues at stake • Critically reflect on technological innovation in a societal framework
Description of outcome - Competences
• Reflect on how models and theories of the technologies can be involved to support decisions in a welfare context.
Literature
For example:
• Hyysalo, Sampsa Torben Elgaard Jensen and Nelly Oudshoorn (2016) The New Production of Users Changing innovation collectives and Involvement strategies. New York: Routledge.
• Verbeek. Paul (2011) Moralising technology, Understanding and Designing the Morality of things. London: University of Chicago press.
• Ruckenstein, Minna 2014. Visualized and Interacted Life: Personal Analytics and Engagements with Data Doubles. Societies 4(1):68–84.
• Taina Bucher (2017) The algorithmic imaginary: exploring the ordinary affects of Facebook algorithms, Information, Communication & Society, 20:1, 30-44.
• Von Schnitzler, Antina. 2013. Travelling Technologies. Infrastructure, Ethical Regimes, and the Materiality of Politics in South Africa. Cultural Anthropology 28 (4): 670-693. Larkin, Brian. Signal and noise: media, infrastructure, and urban culture in Nigeria. Duke University Press, 2008.
• Kristin Asdal, Brita Brenna and Ingunn Moser (eds.) (2007) & Technoscience. The Politics of Interventions. Oslo: Oslo University Press.
Teaching Method
If more than 20 students enrolled in the course , the format of the teaching will be changed to lectures.
Workload
Scheduled classes:
16 seminars of 2 hours
Workload: Participation in seminars 32 hours
Independent work on research paper 238 hours.
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Additional information
The student’s achievement of the learning goals will be assessed through a written report that will be prepared based on the student’s independent research and incorporate data collected during the semester. Such materials may be appended to the 25 page body of the report. The report should conform to standard research paper formats.
Supplemental information on reexam:
An improved research paper. A short supervision is granted in the form of an explanation of major weaknesses in the original paper.
EKA
External comment
Courses offered
Teachers
Name | Department | City | |
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Dorthe Brogård Kristensen | dbk@sam.sdu.dk | Odense | |
Konstantinos Lianidis | kostas@sam.sdu.dk | Odense |