HPSCGA41 Security, Science & Social Research
Course Syllabus
2013-14 session | Mr Timothy Nissen |t.nissen@ucl.ac.uk
This course focuses on how history, philosophy and social studies of science investigates the
relationship between science, technology and security issues. These approaches will be expanded
upon in the context of a range of historical and contemporary case studies, including (amongst
others) the control of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons; the use of non-lethal weapons; and
the securitisation of issues. Concepts and ideas from science and technology studies will be
juxtaposed with those from political science, and security and crime science.
Course Information
Basic course information
Course
website:
See Moodle
Moodle Web
site:
search ‘HPSCGA41’
Assessment:
Two Assignments: 1,000 words (20%) and 4000 words (80%)
Timetable:
[insert this link www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/hpsc Do not enter any other info here]
Prerequisites:
course designed for Masters student
Required texts:
NA
Course tutor(s):
Mr Timothy Nissen
Contact:
t.nissen@ucl.ac.uk | t: TBC
Web:
www.ucl.ac.uk/silva/sts/staff/[insert where applicable]
Office location:
22 Gordon Square, Room TBC
Office hours:
See Moodle
HPSCGA41 Security, Science, and Social Research
2013-14 session | Mr Timothy Nissen |t.nissen@ucl.ac.uk
Schedule
UCL Week Topic
Date
6
Introduction to the course, and the defining 30 Sept
of security
7
7 Oct
The securitisation of …. everything
8
What we can learn from less-lethalweapons
14 Oct
9
Balancing science, security, and society
21 Oct
9
e.g. Assignment 1 deadline
10
The lie in ‘lie-detection technologies’
28 Oct
(11.59)
28 Oct
11
Reading Week
4-10 Nov
12
The impact of secrecy on science and
social research
11 Nov
13
Bio weapons – Prof. Brian Balmer
18 Nov
14
Forensics – the gold standard for
identification?
25 Nov
15
Data is all you need
2 Dec
16
Tying together the threads
9 Dec
??
e.g Assignment 2 deadline
17 Dec
(11.59pm)
Activity
Assessments
Summary
Assignment
1
Assignment
2
Description
Deadline
Word limit
Essay – opinion piece
28 October
1000
Essay
2013
17 December
2013
4000
HPSCGA41 Security, Science, and Social Research
2013-14 session | Mr Timothy Nissen |t.nissen@ucl.ac.uk
Assignments
This course consists of two assignments; both of which are essays. The first has a
maximum word limit of 1000 and is worth 20% of your final mark. The second essay has a
maximum word limit of 4000 and is worth 80% of your final mark.
Essays must be submitted via Moodle
In order to be deemed ‘complete’ on this module students must attempt both
assignments.
Criteria for assessment
The departmental marking guidelines for individual items of assessment can be found in the
STS Student Handbook.
Aims & objectives
Aims:
The aim of this course is to examine the interactions between science, technology, and social
research, as undertaken within the context of security. Of particular interest will be how
knowledge is created in this environment, as well as how it is framed and presented. Casestudies will be employed throughout to highlight the tensions and conflicts which arise when
science, society, and security interact.
By the end of this course students will:
 Comprehend the ephemeral nature of the concept of security, and how this has assisted
its expansion into non-traditional domains
 Have an understanding of how science is undertaken within security
 Recognise the challenges and limitations for social research within the security domain
 Recognise the motivations of the different actors here, and the implications arising from
how scientific knowledge is constructed and framed by these actors
Reading list
There are no textbooks for this course.
The reading list:
 The reading list for each topic will be placed on Moodle at least one week before the
relevant lecture.
 The reading list is divided into required and optional reading - you are not expected to
read all of the material.
 You will be expected to read all of the required reading.
HPSCGA41 Security, Science, and Social Research
2013-14 session | Mr Timothy Nissen |t.nissen@ucl.ac.uk
 The optional readings are intended as additional material. You will certainly need to read
more than the required reading for your essays.
 If you cannot get hold of the required reading, then you should read an item from the
optional list instead.
Where to find the reading material:
All of the required (and most of the optional) reading material will be available electronically.
A number of readings will be made available on Moodle.
Course expectations
Each week the class will be divided into a lecture (approx. 1 hour) and discussion session
(approx. 1 hour). You will be expected to read a set piece for these classes and to contribute
fully to the discussions.
You must attempt both assignment 1 and 2 in order to complete this course.
Additional information
Outline of topics:
Topic 1: Introduction to the course, and the defining of security
Here we will discuss the requirements of this course, as well as setting out the scope by
which we shall interpret the concepts of security, science, and social research for the
purposes of this course. On the specific concept of security, we shall also consider questions
including: Can security be defined? And if so, how? What does it encompass?
Essential Reading:
TBA
Topic 2: The securitisation of … everything
Since 9/11 resources for security have increased. Additionally many areas of society have
been reinterpreted/conscripted as belonging within the sphere of security; e.g. food security,
energy security, transport security, health security, etc. Even the identification of new viruses
has been drawn under this banner. This relabeling has implications for scientific research and
resource allocation, social engagement, decision-making structures and prioritisation.
Essential Reading:
TBA
Topic 3: What we can learn from less-lethal weapons
HPSCGA41 Security, Science, and Social Research
2013-14 session | Mr Timothy Nissen |t.nissen@ucl.ac.uk
The case-study of less-lethal weapons incorporates many recurring themes arising within this
course, including; the framing of issues, challenges for research, function creep, and
contextual social acceptability.
Essential Readings:
TBA
Topic 4: Balancing science, security, and society
‘Balancing’ is a concept repeatedly given oxygen by politicians, government agencies, and
rights-activists as essential to addressing conflicting rights. However, there exists no
accepted methodology for how to achieve this task. Indeed it is conceivable that balancing is
an impossible task or a ruse for arbitrary (or deliberately biased) decision making. We will
examine this concept focussing on the implications for security, science, and social research.
Essential Reading
TBA
Topic 5: The ‘lie’ in lie-detection-technologies
Lie-detectors are technological black-boxes claiming to provide a scientifically objective
solution to the challenge of determining the veracity of a person’s statements. We will
examine how knowledge is constructed by the scientists in this endeavour, the assumptions
underpinning the claims, and the social consequences of these technologies, and whether or
not they actually ‘work’.
Essential Readings
TBA
Topic 6: The impact of secrecy on science and social research
How is security impacted by a requirement for secrecy, and how does this translate into the
conduct of scientific and social research? Also what are the implications of secrecy for society
and any form of public engagement? Indeed is it possible to create forms of public
engagement in relation to security which can work within the confines of secrecy?
Essential Reading
TBA
Topic 7: Research into biological weapons
Topic to be taken by Professor Brian Balmer. Details to follow
HPSCGA41 Security, Science, and Social Research
2013-14 session | Mr Timothy Nissen |t.nissen@ucl.ac.uk
Essential Reading
TBA
Topic 8: Forensics – the gold standard for identification?
A growing number of forensic methodologies are employed to assist in the identification of
individuals, especially in relation to crime scenes. How objective are these? How is this
evidence constructed? What influence does this scientific evidence have on jurors’ decisionmaking? And what chance does conflicting non-scientific evidence have? How reliable are
the statistical claims made in relation to their matching success?
Essential Reading
TBA
Topic 9: Data is all you need
This week the focus is on all things ‘data’ related: data collection, data mining, data matching,
meta-data, personal data, data sharing, data processing, data analytics, data modeling,
biometric data, etc. How does the exponential increase in data collection and processing
impact security, science, and social research?
Essential Reading
TBA
Topic 10: Tying together the threads
For this final seminar we draw together the common threads running throughout the
different topics and case-studies employed over this course.
Essential Reading
TBA
Important policy information
Details of college and departmental policies relating to modules and assessments can be found
in the STS Student Handbook www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/handbook
All students taking modules in the STS department are expected to read these policies.