HPSCGA59 Special Topics in STS
Course Syllabus
2013-14 session | Dr Simon J Lock| simon.lock@ucl.ac.uk
Course Information
We live in an increasingly globalized world. Science and technology play a central role in globalizing
processes and in many of the global networks that have become central to the modern world.
Governing science and technology in a globalized world, however, poses a raft of challenges relating to,
for example corporate control and power, social justice and multi-level governance. This module draws
on sociology of technology, social theory and policy studies to understand the relationships between
science, technology and globalization. The first part will examine how globalization and technology are
re-shaping our world: economically, politically and socially. We will then move on to consider the
problems of governing science and technology in a global and local context, with particular reference to
the internet, climate change and energy and HIV. The final part will engage students with policy making
in a more local context and how to write for policy makers in this setting.
Basic course information
Assessment:
1 x 4000 word essay; 1 x 1000 word policy briefing
Timetable:
www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/hpsc
Course
tutor(s):
Dr Simon J Lock
Contact:
simon.lock@ucl.ac.uk | t: 020 7679 3763
Web:
www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/staff/lock
Office
location:
22 Gordon Square, Room 1.2
Office hours:
Mondays 2- 4pm,
2013-14 session
HPSCGA59
simon.lock@ucl.ac.uk
Schedule
UCL
21
Week
Topic
Introduction to Globalization
Date
13th Jan
Activity
22
Globalization II
20th Jan
Castells paper
23
Technology and Society
27th Jan
Winner paper
24
Global citizens, participation and
governance
Case study – The internet
3rd Feb
Leach, Scoones and
Wynne chapter
Morozov chapter
25
10th Feb
26
Reading Week
27
Case study – Climate change/energy
28
Case study – HIV/AIDS
3rd March
29
Writing and researching for policy makers
30
Visit to Select Committee in Parliament?
10th March Essay 1 deadline 14th
March
Guest expert: Dr Ana
Padilla
17th March
31
Policy Briefing Presentations
24th March
24th Feb
Policy briefing due 4th
April
Assessments
Summary
Description
Essay
Policy briefing
Assignments
Deadline
11.59pm 14th March
2014
11.59 pm 4th April
2014
2012]
Assessment on this module is comprised of two pieces of coursework:
Essay (due 14th March 2014)
Word limit
4000
1000
2013-14 session
HPSCGA59
simon.lock@ucl.ac.uk
A 4000 word academic essay on an area of science, technology or health policy.
You must choose an area of global science, technology or health policy within the areas of
the internet, infectious diseases or climate change/energy technology governance. Your
essay must do two things:

Display evidence of wide reading and research on the topic. Beyond a well
researched summary of the issue you will want to consider some or all of the
following:
o What are the key challenges for governance and policy making? Nationally?
Globally? Transnationally?
o What are the key areas of consensus or debate in the academic literature?

Show critical engagement with the literature on globalization and/or social shaping
of technology and/or citizenship/engagement which helps shed light on the social
processes involved in the issue, e.g.:
o How are processes of globalization implicated in this issue?
o To what extent is this a technological issue and/or a social and political one?
o Who should have an input into decision making here? Why? How?
e.g. you might pick the issue of government surveillance of personal data. You can
approach this from multiple angles, including how and why this is a current policy issue,
the extent to which globalization has driven this issue and/or makes it a difficult issue to
govern effectively. You might alternatively look at the how the development of the
technology itself has been shaped by social, political and corporate interests and how
these affect our ability to govern the internet. Equally you might focus on the open
innovation/data/hackivist movements and the ways in which these have engaged/driven
in the issue at a global and national level.
Policy briefing (due 4th April 2014)
You will be expected to produce a 1000 word executive summary for a Ministerial policy
briefing of no more than on the policy issue you addressed in your first assignment. More
details on this assignment will be provided in class.
Coursework must be submitted via Moodle
In order to be deemed ‘complete’ on this module students must attempt both pieces of
assessment.
Criteria for assessment
The departmental marking guidelines for individual items of assessment can be found in the
STS Student Handbook.
2013-14 session
HPSCGA59
simon.lock@ucl.ac.uk
Aims & objectives
This module aims to engage students with the complex relationship between science,
technology and globalization. The module will explore the role of the local and global in
governing science and technology and also aims to develop students skills in the area of
policy writing.
By the end of this module student should have developed:
◦ knowledge of the history of science as a global and globalising phenomenon
◦ knowledge of the scope and character of globalization
◦ knowledge and understanding of the political processes shaping scientific and
technological systems of global significance
◦ knowledge and understanding of the extent and constraints of citizens within such
political processes
◦ knowledge and understanding of the rights and obligations of citizens with respect to
global scientific and technological systems
◦ skills, drawing from core STS literature, necessary to interpret science-based decision
making in social and political contexts
◦ skills in writing for policy makers and developing policy advice.
Reading list
See Moodle for readings.
Course expectations
Where there is one specified students are expected to read the essential reading before class
and come prepared to discuss it.
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.