Managing sustainable technology challenges in practice

We live in a world where scientific and technological artifacts are deeply embedded in nearly every aspect of life. To create sustainable innovations, it is essential to understand that innovation cannot be separated from its societal context. This course builds on the principle that technology and society co-construct each other and uses theoretical frameworks to explore this dynamic through the analysis of real-life sustainable and/or energy technologies.Within groups, students mobilize theoretical frameworks on innovation, sustainability, and technology-society interaction to analyze challenges faced by sustainable and energy technologies in society. Groups of students work on different challenges related to socio-technical systems such as energy, ICT, housing, water, or mobility. Challenges are linked to students based on their interest and, if applicable, to the learning lines they are following. For instance, students taking this course as part of an energy learning line will be placed in a group working on an energy related challenge. Each group must select theoretical concepts and frameworks to analyze their specific challenge. Based on these insights, students compose policy and strategy recommendations and critically reflect on the agency of different actors in managing sustainable and energy technologies in society.

During the course, groups of students learn how to work independently on a real-life sustainability challenge, supported by regular supervision. Planning, collaboration and visual thinking and communication skills are essential and will be strengthened through an introduction lecture, workshops, group meetings, peer feedback, a group work plan, and reflection activities. Insights gained during the course will be consolidated and presented during mid-term and final presentations to fellow students, clients, and tutors, and in a final poster and report that communicates ideas clearly and in an engaging way.

Topics in this course are:

• Multi-Level Perspective
• Strategic Niche Management
• Visioning (visioning, forecasting, scenarios, and backcasting)
• New Business Models
• Technological Innovation Systems
• Sustainability theories (such as Baker’s ladder, Sustianable Development Goals, Sustainable synergies and trade-offs, Conventional development paradigm versus Sustainable development according to Brundland, Three pillars of sustainability/triple bottom line, green growth, ecological and social boundaries, Wellbeing monitor)
• Justice Theory (social, climate, environmental, etc.)
• Large Technical Systems
• Social Construction of Technology
• Governance and power

After this course, students are able to:

• select the theoretical concepts and frameworks that are most suitable for analysing and solving the challenge(s) faced by the client and can justify their choice.
• analyze challenges faced by sustainable and energy technology in society by applying theoretical concepts and frameworks related to the STiS learning line.
• compose policy and strategy recommendations in relation to the challenges faced by sustainable and energy technology in society, by applying theoretical concepts and frameworks related to the STiS learning line.
• critically reflect on the agency of different actors in managing sustainable and energy technologies in society.
• apply visual thinking to develop, structure, and present their analysis and proposed solutions in a compelling and accessible manner.

You must meet the following requirements

• Registered for a degree programme other than
• HBO-TOP Applied Physics, Pre-Master

• Reading material and videos explaining the theoretical concepts and frameworks (listed in assumed knowledge).