Spring 2013  |  PA 5731 Section 001: Emerging Technologies and Society (67229)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
A-F only
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Class Attributes:
Delivery Medium
Meets With:
BTHX 5000 Section 002
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/22/2013 - 05/10/2013
Mon, Wed 09:45AM - 11:00AM
UMTC, West Bank
Hubert H Humphrey Center 35
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
Legal, public policy, social, economic, and ethical implications of emerging technologies (such as nanotechnology). Perspective of stakeholders (federal agencies, public, industry, environment, international organizations) and public policies. Statutory objectives/regulatory. Diversity of policy problems. Research methodologies.
Class Description:
The world is changing dramatically from the development and deployment of emerging technologies like biotechnology, nanotechnology, robotics, neurotechnology, and information technology. In turn, these technologies are shaped and influenced by social, political, and cultural factors. Arguably, the need to understand technology-society relationships has never been greater if ETs are to be appropriately governed to achieve visions of the future that are desirable. As such, this class will expose students to a variety of ways to conceptualize and study these relationships. Students will use multiple methodologies (e.g. case study research, future studies methods) and different disciplinary perspectives (e.g. law, policy sciences, ethics, sociology, humanities) to examine past, present, and future socio-technological systems, developments, and impacts. Core questions will include: What social, political, and cultural factors have influenced the development and use of emerging technologies in recent times? How have these technologies influenced society? How can the future impacts of technologies be better understood in the face of uncertainty? What can be done from a human perspective to control, manage, and guide emerging technologies in society? How can differing ideas about the role of ETs in society be critically examined and negotiated? How can policies or programs be designed to best utilize ETs for societal benefit while minimizing undesirable impacts or states of the world? Guest lectures and popular and scholarly writings on the ethical, legal, safety, social, cultural, and policy issues associated with emerging technologies will be used to introduce key topics and technological domains. Using this background and their own independent research, students will become active contributors to scholarship in this area by developing their own case study on a particular ET-society relationship. Under framings of case study, policy analysis, and future studies, they will develop multiple-module electronic-cases (including video, graphics, pictures, and written documents) that examine technology-society relationships and future options for governance. Upon completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to publish their e-cases on the Hubert Project and Initiative on Governance of Emerging Technologies (iGETs) websites. Through the course readings, discussion & lectures, and e-case project, students will gain expertise in studying ET-society relationships and skills in communicating about these relationships in accessible formats.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/67229/1133
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
22 April 2013

ClassInfo Links - Spring 2013 Public Affairs Classes

To link directly to this ClassInfo page from your website or to save it as a bookmark, use:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?subject=PA&catalog_nbr=5731&term=1133
To see a URL-only list for use in the Faculty Center URL fields, use:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?subject=PA&catalog_nbr=5731&term=1133&url=1
To see this page output as XML, use:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?subject=PA&catalog_nbr=5731&term=1133&xml=1
To see this page output as JSON, use:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?subject=PA&catalog_nbr=5731&term=1133&json=1
To see this page output as CSV, use:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?subject=PA&catalog_nbr=5731&term=1133&csv=1
Schedule Viewer
8 am
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
4 pm
5 pm
6 pm
7 pm
8 pm
9 pm
10 pm
s
m
t
w
t
f
s
?
Class Title

ClassInfo created and maintained by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

If you have questions about specific courses, we strongly encourage you to contact the department where the course resides.