4. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY
International programme
All courses are taught in English
120 EC, no pre-master programme
Good opportunities to study abroad
Training in reflection / academic skills
Empirical orientation: analyzing specific technologies and
technological practices and discourses
Excellent research
Opportunity to do internship
5. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY
Philosophical and multidisciplinary reflection on science and
technology
Analyzing and assessing the impact of
science and technology on society
How are ict’s affecting our privacy?
How are prosthetics changing our human identity?
How can we assess the acceptability of risks and uncertainties:
waste water processing, nuclear energy?
Can we use robots as companions
for elderly people?
6. ADMISSION
a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in
(Applied) Natural Science,
Engineering Science,
Social Science,
Philosophy
Any other discipline, with an emphasis on (social) science
or technology and a focus on the application of technology
in a particular professional area or on technical
interventions in social systems
7. ADMISSION
Good knowledge of English
English writing assessment for international and Dutch HBO
students
Online application (form website)
9. Programme lay out first year
Students with different backgrounds (in Science, Engineering, Social
Sciences and Philosophy) are introduced to the typical PSTS
approach. They take the courses Philosophy of Technology,
Philosophical theories and methods, and Science and Technology
Studies
In the TechnoLab project (which runs through block 2 and 3) students
become acquainted with technological approaches and frameworks
used in Engineering Sciences and Social Sciences (UT) disciplines
and institutes.
The other courses deal with more detailed investigation of topics
related to PSTS and prepares students for the research-oriented
courses in the second year.
10. 2d year PSTS New Style
First Term
Students take the three
obligatory courses of
their profile (15 EC’s)
and choose 2 elective
courses (10 EC’s).
Masterlab 1 (5 EC’s) is
followed parallel to the
module and elective
courses: skills training,
orientation within profile,
thesis proposal.
Second Term
MasterLab 2 is part of
working on master
thesis: discussing drafts
with other students.
11. Programme lay out second year
In the second year students choose a specialisation profile.
Dependent on their profile students have to follow a cluster of
obligatory courses and can fill up the rest with elective courses,
compiling this way a tailor-made profile
Students specialize themselves within a profile under guidance of a
profile coordinator and participate in activities of the relevant research
group(s), such as research meetings and colloquia
Depending on an orientation towards an academic career or
professional career, the student can choose an internship or a
research project
Students prepare their thesis proposal and write their thesis.
12. TWENTE GRADUATE SCHOOL
FOR DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS
Outstanding research environment ‘high tech - human touch’
High quality structured supervision and personal development
Integrated Master’s and PhD programmes: make a head start
Tailor-made education in the PhD phase:
Advanced courses in the field of expertise
Academic and career development skills
For more information see: www.utwente.nl/tgs
TGS programmes related to Philosophy of Science, Technology and
Society:
Ethics and Technology (3TU.Centre for Ethics and Technology)
Human-centred Interaction Technologies (CTIT)
Governance of Knowledge and Innovation (IGS)
12
14. PSTS theses
Lise Bitsch: Genetic susceptibility screening in Denmark
•About the use of genetic screening technology in Denmark
Setargew Kenaw Fantaw: Cultural Translation of Technological
Modernization: Postphemenology and Technological Mediation of
Culture
•About changes in culture by the usage of mobile phones in African societies
Antonia Linzbach: Political discourse on biogas and its reflection in
regulatory Institutionalization
•About the success of a specific kind of green technology
Lars van Assen: Neuroscience and free will
About anthropological presuppositions in the free will and neuroscience
debate.
15. STUDY ABROAD
Philosophy of Technology:
Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm
University of North Texas
Stony Brook University New York
Science, Technology and Society:
PRIME network: Aalborg, Lisbon, Manchester, Madrid,
Paris or Atlanta.
17. WHY STUDY PSTS?
Broadening your academic skills
Linking pin between engineering, social and business
sciences
Active contribution to society
A new outlook on existing discusions regarding current
affairs
18. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY
Job perspectives:
Policy making / Government: Cogem (Commissie
genetische modificatie), Rathenau Institute.
Academic world: PhD project
Consultancy: Tauw (sustainability), Technopolis
Industry / Business: food, textile, oil, chemicals, machinery,
automotive, ICT, communication / journalism, etc.
Research & Development:
ECN (Energy research Centre of the Netherlands), TNO.
19. Ruth Mamphuys
Researcher Environmental risks of
genetic modification
Medical Biochemistry & PSTS
the Netherlands Commission on
Genetic Modification (COGEM).
Examines test applications, informs
applicants, talks to experts, and
advises the Ministry of VROM.
20. Hanneke Bodewes
Innovation and Scientific Policy Consultant
Industrial Engineering and Management &
PSTS
Technopolis
Advice on innovation and scientific policy for
the European Commission
Now works at SenterNovem on innovation
policy
21. FURTHER INFORMATION
Mr. Jan Nelissen (study counsellor)
Tel: +31 53 489 3588
E-mail: j.m.j.nelissen@utwente.nl
23. Who am I?
Ceciel Kempers
Student
Engineer/researcher
Into arts and culture
Aspriring philosopher
24. My Background
BASc Biomedical Research
Focus on research and engineering:
Biology
Chemistry
Little math and physics
Learn how to work at the lab bench
Didn’t want a career in the laboratory
Looking for a master that takes the broader perspective: relating
science and technology to society
25. Now: PSTS
What is my experience?
Studying harder than ever before, but learned so much (even at the
fundamental level)!
Great professors
Makes you develop a highly critical attitude towards EVERYTHING
Great international community
26. Course example
Society, Politics and Technology
Learning basic concepts used in political philosophy
Analyzing technologies in terms of political and social aspects:
Do artifacts possess political abilities?
Do they affect the way we think about justice, freedom, equality,
community and/or democracy?
Highly interactive course: lively discussions