2021 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Technology and Innovation Management Graduate major in Technology and Innovation Management
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Analysis II
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Technology and Innovation Management
- Instructor(s)
- Masako Ikegami
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 9-10 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- TIM.C511
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is designed to introduce the historical case studies of critical decision-making over the development and use of nuclear weapons and technology. Main topics include: Atoms for peace, development and comparative analysis of nuclear power policies, international regime for nuclear material control, crisis analysis of nuclear disaster, and nuclear security. The course also include engineering ethics issues such as contentious "big data and ethics (weapons of math destruction" and "pseudo science".
Course description and aims
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
• acquire the basic concepts and understanding of the topics covered in this course thorough literature reading;
• develop capabilities of analyzing the historical and current cases of critical decision-making over the development and use of nuclear technology;
• demonstrate capabilities of discussing the complexity of specific nuclear policy issues through critical thinking and essay work.
Keywords
science & technology, research & development policy analysis, technology and security,nuclear technology and nuclear security, nuclear power policy
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course consists of obligatory lectures and seminars, oral presentation of the students' independent research (individually or in group), and final essay.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: Atoms for Peace in the age of Big Science | Introduction Atoms for Peace President Eisenhower's historic address at the UN "Atoms for Peace" paved the way for the civilian use of nuclear power. |
| Class 2 | Japan's nuclear policy analysis International comparative analysis of nuclear policy | Japan's nuclear policy analysis prompted by "Atoms for peace" and the US-Soviet Cold War confrontation. International comparative analysis of nuclear policy; e.g. US, UK, Germany, France, Sweden |
| Class 3 | International regime for the control of nuclear materials Nuclear security | International regime for the control of nuclear materials as a highly strategic issue; Nuclear security |
| Class 4 | Examining nuclear catastrophe: Fukushima, Chernobyl, etc. by Prof. Narabayashi | What went wrong with the nuclear catastrophes in Fukushima, Chernobyl, etc.? |
| Class 5 | Risk analysis of advanced science & technology society | Risk analysis of advanced science & technology society |
| Class 6 | Environment & energy policy and pseudo science by external expert (Uppsala University) | Environment & energy policy and pseudo science by external expert (Uppsala University) |
| Class 7 | Big data and ethics by external expert (Uppsala University) | Big data and ethics; "Weapons of Math Destruction" |
| Class 8 | Oral presentation and Wrap-up discussion | Oral presentation and Wrap-up discussion |
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)
A compendium of articles and book chapters may be included as hand-outs
Reference books, course materials, etc.
A compendium of articles and book chapters may be included as hand-outs
Evaluation methods and criteria
The evaluation is based on the followings:
• Regular class attendance and active participation: 50%
• Essay work (final paper) with oral presentation: 50% (essay 30% + oral presentation 20%)
Related courses
- TIM.C510 ： Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Analysis I
- TIM.C532 ： Research, Development, Test & Evaluation of Advanced/Defense Technology
- NCL.O510 ： World Politics and Nonproliferation in the Nuclear Age
Prerequisites
Completing "Science, technology and innovation policy analysis I" is recommended but not compulsory.
Other
The course is given in a class room as well as via Zoom.