Sustainable Technology in Society

This social scientific course deals with the development and use of environmentally sound technology in modern societies. Global industrial pollution, resource depletion or climate change are often presented as problems that need technological solutions. The social sciences study and critically address these mostly technically defined problems and solutions by using contextual models in which technology is seen as socially constructed and employed as part of the range of social practices that constitute society. Through the readings, lectures, assignments, tutorials, and an excursion students become acquainted with the societal dimensions of planning, designing and managing sustainable technology and technological systems such as urban infrastructures, digital systems, transport, housing and building.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Recognize and understand theories on social practice, technology and system innovation
• Explain and compare theories and methods from social sciences and philosophy of technology to analyse sustainable technology in society
• Apply theories and methods from social sciences and philosophy of technology to contemporary sustainable technology developments in various contexts (such as urban and digital infrastructures, food, housing and building)
• Demonstrate knowledge of current socio-technical experiments in technological systems
• Design socio-technological niches for sustainable technology in society
• Evaluate present day socio-technological experiments in terms of their contribution to technological transitions
• Discuss, report, present and defend a case of sustainable technology development within a chosen field

Assumed Knowledge:
To follow and pass the course successfully, students should understand the basic principles of environmental sciences (ESA20806 Principles of Environmental Sciences) and have basic social scientific knowledge of environmental issues (ENP24803 Social Scientific Analysis of Environmental Issues) or hold similar BSc level knowledge on Environment and Society.