Collaboration across STEM and Liberal Arts: Solving Social Issues through Collaboration between Liberal Arts and STEM [2]

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Shinji Kawana

Class Format

Lecture/Exercise (Livestream)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

1-4 Wed

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.C658

Number of credits

110

Course offered

2024

Offered quarter

4Q

Syllabus updated

Mar 17, 2025

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

［Collaboration across STEM and Liberal Arts］are study group-type subjects that will start in 2024. Each time, students will engage in discussions with guest lecturers who are active leaders in their various fields. Together with participating doctoral graduate students, we will explore new developments and possibilities in convergence science.
The maximum number of students is 50 per class. If the number is exceeded, a lottery will be held.
Group work will be conducted in English, but Japanese may be used if consensus can be reached within the group. Moderators and instructors will give lectures in Japanese, to be translated by ZOOM's translation function.
Students will take an e-learning session on research ethics in the first class. Submission of the “session-completion certificate” is required.

The use of technology to "solve social issues" can be said in a single sentence, but there are many different ways. Many social problems involve value trade-offs, and a different social issue may arise as soon as one value is prioritized. Therefore, if we do not adequately understand the nature of any given social issue we are trying to solve, we may complicate the problem. Thus, what kind of technology should change the tensions between social issues in a desirable direction, and for whom? Is there a "public nature" at stake? With these questions in mind, we will explore the possibility of technological solutions to social issues by taking up the issue of bases in Japan.

Course description and aims

Through this lecture, students should acquire the following abilities. (1) Understand the meaning of "solutions" using technology based on the pluralism and uniqueness of "social issues. (2) To be able to consider specifically the possibilities of social implementation of technology concerning the problems surrounding the U.S. military bases in Japan.

Keywords

Science and technology, technological solutions to social issues

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Classes will be conducted via Zoom, with guest lectures and Q&A in periods 1 and 2 and group work in periods 3 and 4. In the 2nd through 6th classes, students will learn about the base problem in Japan with guest speakers. Then, students will discuss the possibility of "solutions" using technology.

Course schedule/Objectives

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)

none

Reference books, course materials, etc.

see in japanese

Evaluation methods and criteria

Speaking during class (30%), report (70%)

Related courses

• LAH.S426 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences26:International Relations

Prerequisites

none