Democratising Science, Technology and Sustainability (968N1)

15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Autumn teaching

Science, technology and innovation processes are central to social and ecological change.

In this module, you’ll debate how the development of techno-scientific innovations and sustainability initiatives can be made more democratic. We’ll discuss different theoretical and practical approaches to power, participation and pluralism as core aspects of democracy. This is in relation to science, technology and sustainability across modern societies.

Based mainly on Science, Technology and Society (STS) studies, conceptual approaches of the module include:

• socio-technical imaginaries
• matters of concern
• uninvited engagement
• precaution
• opening up
• ecologies of participation
• grassroots innovation movements.

You’ll also examine practical tools and methods, such as citizens juries and co-designed digital platforms. You’ll look at these for developing events and infrastructures to democratise science, technology and sustainability transformations.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.