SWEDEN: LINKÖPING
SWEDEN: LINKÖPING
Institution: Department of Technology and Social Change
Linköping University
S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Contact: Asso. Prof. Jane Summerton
Telephone: +46 13 28 10 00
Telefax: +46 13 28 44 61
Electronic mail: http://www.tema.liu.se (Institute)
http://www.liu.se (University)
Description of the Center
Specific Profile:
At the Department of Technology and Social Change the relationships
between
technology and society are studied from various perspectives, e.g.
economic,
social, political and cultural. The utilisation of an interdisciplinary
approach at the department involves analyses from both historical and
contemporary perspectives.
Main Research Areas:
Research in the department is organized in four research programs as
follows:
Systems of Innovation - The program has two main foci: 1) national,
regional and sectoral systems of innovation and 2) innovation policy.
The
overriding purpose of the program is to explore relationships between
technical,
economic, organizational and institutional change. Program coordinators:
Charles Edquist, Maureen McKelvey, Hans Sjögren.
Man, Information Technology, Society - The program centers on three
main
areas which are analyzed with special emphasis on the role of information
technology: technology and everyday life, rhetorics of technology,
and large
technical systems. Program coordinators: Kajsa Ellegård, Lars
Ingelstam.
Technology, Practice and Identity - The program has three
main foci: gender studies, studies of actors and practices in various
technological settings (particularly in high-risk environments), and
analysis of sociotechnical networks/systems (particularly energy and
environment).
Program coordinators: Boel Berner, Jane Summerton.
Technology and Culture - The program studies the interactions between
technological development, culture and thought. Areas of interest include
critical studies of technology, various kinds of cultural analyses,
and studies of the theory and practice of social engineering. Program
coordinator:
Jonas Anselm.
Permanent staff members and their areas of expertise:
Boel Berner, technological expertise and practice; gender studies.
Charles Edquist, systems of innovation; economics of technical change.
Lars Ingelstam, information technology; post-industrial futures.
Kajsa Ellegård, cultural geography; technology and everyday life.
Jonas Anselm, discourse analysis; nature, technology and society.
Karin Mårdsjö, interplay of technology - language - reality.
Maureen McKelvey, evolutionary economics and biotechnology.
Hans Sjögren, financing of innovations.
Jane Summerton, sociology of technology; energy and environment.
Description of teaching system:
A Doctoral Degree is offered in ”Technology and Social Change” - an
extensive study
program (four-five years’ duration) which leads to a Ph.D. degree.
The
program consist of course work and a Ph.D. thesis. The first term
of the PhD program consists of a number of compulsory courses (see
below).
During the second term, the PhD students choose individual courses,
while
also formulating their thesis topics. The last three years are devoted
to
thesis work. Admission in September every second year. Next admission
for
PhD students in September 2001 (application date April 2001).
A Masters Degree in ”Technology and Social Change” is being developed.
Courses: PhD program
The Ph.D. course work is organized around two core modules: Technology
and
Culture and Technology and Society. Each module consists of several
individual courses as follows.
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Technology and Culture.
Part 1 History of technology
Goal: to study technological development in a historical perspective,
both
through historical case studies and discussion of theoretical perspectives
concerning technological change.
Course cordinator: Lars Strömbäck.
Workforms: Lectures, seminars, obligatory excursion.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 2 weeks.
Form of assessment: Short paper; active participation in all seminars.
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Technology and Culture.
Part 2 Modernity and Technical Practice
Goal: to provide an overview of modernization processes in twentieth century Sweden, particularly as seen from perspectives and practices of selected actors (e.g. engineers, housewives).
Course cordinator: Boel Berner
Workforms: Lectures, seminars.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 2 weeks.
Form of assessment: Essay; active participation in all seminars.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technology and Culture.
Part 3 Cultural Perspectives on Modernity and Post-modernity
Goal: to study ideologies and utopies as well as theories about the
modernization and rationalization of the Western world.
Course coordinator: Jonas Anselm.
Workforms: Lectures, seminars, individual presentation.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 2 weeks.
Form of assessment: Oral presentation and essay; active participation
in all
seminars.
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Technology and Culture
Part 4 Technological and Everyday Culture
Goal: to problematise the use of technology in everyday life (e.g. in homes, places of work) and provide an introduction to cultural geographic research methodology.
Course coordinator: Kajsa Ellegård
Workforms: Lectures.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 2 weeks.
Form of assessment: Individual project; active participation in all
seminars.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technology and Society.
Part 1 Technology and Economic Development
Goal: to give students an understanding of modern technological development
and its importance for economic change.
Course cordinator: Charles Edquist
Workforms: Lectures, seminars.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 2 weeks.
Form of assessment: written examination; active participation in seminars.
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Technology and Society.
Part 2. Science and Technology Studies, STS
Goal: to provide an introduction to selected perspectives within science and technology studies, STS (e.g. constructivism(s), actor-network theory, feminist perspectives, post-colonial studies).
Course cordinator: Jane Summerton.
Workforms: Lectures, seminars.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 4 weeks.
Form of assessment: short written reflections; active participation in seminars.
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Technology and Society.
Part 3 Institutional Theory
Goal: to introduce the field of institutional economic theory and its
relevance to technological, economic and social change.
Course cordinator: Hans Sjögren.
Workforms: Lectures, seminars.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 2 weeks.
Form of assessment:written examination.
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Technology and Society.
Part 4 Independent Study
Goal: to provide training in applying a theoretical perspective of relevance
for technology and social change to contemporary topics/controversies
(i.e.
selected empirical material, case studies).
Course cordinator: Boel Berner
Workforms: independent work under advisor supervision.
Normalised student study load: full time (40 hrs/w) over 4 weeks.
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