Science, Technology, Society and Policy Studies
Science, Technology, Society, and Policy (STSP) studies focus on science and engineering in a societal context: how science and engineering influences society, and how society influences science and engineering. Courses provide historical and analytical approaches to questions inevitably confronting professional scientists, engineers, managers, and policy makers in both public and private sectors. Such questions concern, for example, professional ethical responsibilities, intellectual property rights, science policy formation, appropriate regulatory regimes, assessments of societal impacts, and the roles of technical innovation in economic development or international competitiveness.
Sample Courses:
LAIS 285 Introduction to Law/Legal Systems
LAIS 286 Introduction to Government and Politics
LAIS 370 History of Science
LAIS 371 History of Technology
LAIS 375 Engineering Cultures
LAIS 475 Engineering Cultures in the Developing World
LAIS 476 Technology and International Development
LAIS 485 Constitutional Law and Politics
LAIS 486 Science and Technology Policy
LAIS 487 Environmental Politics and Policy
LAIS 488 Water Politics and Policy
LAIS 489 Nuclear Power and Public Policy
LAIS also offers a Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Policy.
Program Advisor: Dr. Carl Mitcham
Hennebach Program in the Humanities
Given increased recognition of the importance of the humanities in engineering education, LAIS offers the Hennebach Program in the Humanties to explore opportunities for meeting the needs of undergraduate students — especially engineering and applied science students who aspire to assuming leadership roles in the technical world. Previous events include visiting scholars in classics, environmental studies, ethics, history, literature, philosophy, and social theory as well as the interdisciplinary fields of environmental, policy, and science- technology-society studies. Please go to Hennebach Program for more information.