Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course is intended to offer students an opportunity to reflect upon the challenges posed by the development of new technologies, the emergence of new movements and the uncertainties attendant to social and political conflicts associated with policy issues about which experts differ in significant ways. Students with credit for POL 457 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description:            

In this writing-intensive course we will explore and critically evaluate issues related to contemporary science, technology and innovation policy (STIP) from a multidisciplinary perspective. Central themes in our course – in our current era of crisis – entail the themes of crisis, inspiring and managing change, the ingenuity needed to address unknown future challenges, and ethics. Specifically, our focus in STIP will be to examine how different and multiple actors or “policy communities”, ranging from all levels of government, businesses of all sizes and civil society organizations, can or should harness science/technology/innovation in endeavouring to redress our current crises. A short list of such crises comprises climate change in the Anthropocene, chronic poverty and hunger, rising inequality and instability of Neoliberal capitalism, security challenges inclusive of WMD (weapons of mass destruction), the surveillance state, and what some have called a potential “technology Cold War” between today’s superpowers.            

Some of the questions we pose in our discussions are: Are we confronting an “ingenuity gap” in our increasingly complex and uncertain world? Can technology advancement and innovation truly be spurred by states, as opposed to markets? What are the 21st century skills people/youth require to not be replaced at work by robots and AI? Does the Global North have a responsibility to assist the economic development or “catch-up” of the Global South through technology transfer? Should laypersons have any say in policy, or should this be left to the experts? How can we manage technology-based risk that we ourselves have created in our World Risk Society?            

The course is divided into three core parts. In the first part we build up foundational knowledge about the relevant concepts, policy approaches, and economic theories linking STIP to economic performance and quality of life. Here, we are guided by both classical and modern thinkers who have studied the meaning and causes of innovation and technology advance up until our current “Fourth Industrial Revolution”. The second part of the course examines case studies of STIP in various sectors including the Internet, smart technology, Big Data and the Internet of Things; energy (renewable vs. fossil fuel); health and medical technology; agriculture and GMO; defence and security; and blockchain’s varied impacts on many sectors. Finally, recent controversies and debates about STIP are evaluated in the third part of the course, with emphasis on the question: Just because we can innovate something, does that mean that ethically we should? Upon completion of the course students will have a sound knowledge of policy issues and debates surrounding STIP while also developing their skills in critical thinking, communication and especially writing.  

Course Organization: 

We will meet each week for four hours. The teaching approach comprises a combination of lecture, interactive class discussions, along with structured small group discussions, and time for reflections writing.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: