Managing sustainable technology

Drawing on insights from the field of sustainability transitions, innovation sciences and STS (Science and Technology) studies, Managing Sustainable Technology course introduces students to the possibilities and constraints of how societies can manage innovations.
Given the limitations of product and process innovations in dealing with grand societal challenges such as climate change, poverty or social inequalities, this course focuses on innovation from a system perspective. System perspective implies consideration of not only technical but also societal, institutional, political, economic and other factors. Introduction of technological novelties that are e.g. more sustainable, requires therefore a fundamental change of all aspects that facilitate the use of that technology by the society incl. established infrastructure, markets, policies, culture, practices as well as dealing with the vested interests of a variety of societal actors.
Because of its radical and long-term character, as well as normative orientation towards sustainability, such a change, often termed a transition or transformation, is not an easy task. Stimulating and managing it requires novel, reflexive approaches that recognise the importance of: experimentation, multi-actor collaboration, establishment of a robust and shared vision, social learning and new ways of doing business.
A number of such reflexive approaches have been developed to manage complex technological change from a systemic perspective. During the course, the approaches will be discussed and applied to simple practical cases. Wherever applicable, the approaches will be coupled with analytical perspectives to allow better insight in the analysed cases.
We will also problematise the relationship between science, technology and public policy-making. Thereby we challenge the conventional assumption that their relationship is merely that of science speaking truth to state power, or in turn, that public policy-making is merely about adding moral and political values to objective expertise.

This course aims to deepen students' knowledge and ability to reflect on the theoretical approaches introduced in 0SV10 by operationalising them in the context of managing the technology in society. At the end of this course students:

1. Summarise basic systemic and reflexive approaches to managing sustainable**** innovations in society;

2. Apply basic systemic and reflexive approaches to managing sustainable**** innovations in society, in simple and practical cases;

3. Reflect on the merits of the basic systemic & reflexive approaches to managing**** sustainable innovations in society, and about their applicability to real-life cases.

During the course you will acquire or improve two professional skills: ‘presenting’ and ‘reflecting’. Regarding these PRV objectives, after the course you will be able to:

1. Summarise basic systemic and reflexive approaches to managing sustainable**** innovations in society;

2. Apply basic systemic and reflexive approaches to managing sustainable**** innovations in society, in simple and practical cases;

3. Reflect on the merits of the basic systemic & reflexive approaches to managing**** sustainable innovations in society, and about their applicability to real-life cases.

You must meet the following requirements

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

• A selection of compulsory readings will be suggested at CANVAS