Reimagining Innovation

What if we made not only better technologies but also better societies? What if we had dialogues between present and future generations? What if we reimagined innovation to create worlds in which everyone can thrive?

In this course, you will develop skills to imagine 'what if' by exploring 'what is'. You will learn about decolonial, degrowth, and other grassroots approaches to innovation, many of which exist outside of Western technocratic discourse but have become increasingly influential in communities around the world. Public controversies related to technological innovations, such as farmer protests against nitrogen models, are similarly rich in alternative views informed by local, non-academic knowledge. You will learn how to study public views by gaining hands-on experience in a future-oriented focus group methodology. This will enable you to challenge dominant institutional beliefs in 'technological fixes', such as geoengineering and genetic modification, and to reimagine innovations that foster socially just and environmentally sustainable transformations.

• Distinguish and critique dominant and alternative approaches to innovation

• Analyse and assess the role that imagination, power, and controversy play in innovation and transformation

• Learn the skills and gain practical experience of a future-oriented focus group methodology

• ? (50%)
• ? (50%)

CPT18306 or CPT28806

• A course outline can be obtained from the secretary of CPT. Course literature links will be available on Brightspace.