2020 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Science and Technology for Society B
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Masashi Shirabe
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue (H135) / 5-6 Fri (H135)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T205
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
What is social responsibility of scientists? How should society govern science and technology? What should scientists communicate with citizens? Through various cases, I will have participants tackle such problems.
The aims of the course are as follows.
- To foster scientists who consider social impacts of research
- To enhance participants' awareness of various aspects of complex problems
Course description and aims
(1) Strengthen ability to study science from various perspectives and in a critical manner
(2) Have basic knowledge and skills to analyze case studies of STS
Keywords
social responsibility of scientists; scientific rationality; government and science
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Mainly in a lecture style. But, small group discussion in the final section (class 14 and 15).
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | |
| Class 2 | What is things called science? | To have a critical perspective on science |
| Class 3 | academic papers and research evaluation | To build the habit of challenging subjectivities of numbers |
| Class 4 | Functions of academic papers and scientific misconducts | To contemplate the best form of researchers |
| Class 5 | Interface between engineering ethics and science and technology studies | To understand context sensitiveness of "ethical behavior" |
| Class 6 | Case study: Minamata disease | To understand relation between science and political authority |
| Class 7 | Case study; Itai-itai disease | To understand relation between science and political authority |
| Class 8 | Case study: FBR Monju | To understand relation between science and government |
| Class 9 | Case study: Trials regarding HIV-contaminated blood products | To understand relation between science and government |
| Class 10 | Case study: Winny (P2P File-sharing software) | To understand relation between science and government |
| Class 11 | Case study: BSE scare | To understand science for risk governance |
| Class 12 | Case study: Treatment of medical waste | To understand science for risk governance |
| Class 13 | Case study: Low dose radiation after Fukushima nuclear plant accident | To understand science for risk governance |
| Class 14 | Debate: Blood type personality theory | To have an opportunity for self-reflection |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Yuko Fujigaki (eds.), Case analysis and theoretical concepts for science and technology studies, University of Tokyo Press (in Japanese)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Hand out materials as needed.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Exercise problems (40%) and a final report (60%)
Related courses
- LAH.T104 ： Science and Technology for Society A
- LAH.T304 ： Science and Technology for Society C
Prerequisites
None.
Other
This lecture is an online lecture (by zoom). Its URL will be sent to your Tokyo Tech e-mail address (m address) by the lecture, so please check your Tokyo Tech address every lecture day's morning. If you are unable to access the classes on time, the URL for recorded lecture will be sent to your e-mail address after the lecture, so you can also check that video.
In addition, depending on your internet environment, it may be difficult to watch videos. In that case, please contact me by email.