Program in Science Technology and Values
Plans & Progress
Initial version 2004. [**] indicates priorities for 06-07
Mission: To promote understanding scientific, technological
and social change
Science and technology are increasingly important sources of change in the world. The Program in Science, Technology and Values offers students the opportunity to examine historical, socio-political, cultural, philosophical, and ethical dimensions of science and technology. It encourages both science and non-science students to analyze, in a focused way, the impact of science and technology on other social institutions and the impact of those institutions on science and technology
Goal 1: Build the students numbers in the Program
Direct communication with students
- Adjust the wording of the science requirements for the concentration so as not to discourage humanities and social science majors with an interest in the social implications of science. The requirements are the same as the NS/Math distribution requirement for a BS and only one more course than the distribution requirement for a BA. [Completed Dec '04]
- Work with registrar's office to update audits and facilitate graduation with STV minor. [**]
- Arrange STV associates to give guest lectures in large intro science courses linking a course topic to STV issues. [done in 05-06] [**]
- Identify then contact students who have already taken a number of STV courses through teachers of the STV courses handing out a survey so almost concentrators can self-identify. [done in 05-06] [**]
- Create a 200-level course that fulfills a NS distribution requirement and introduces students to the STV field.
- Update the catalog to match current course offerings and advisors. [Done May '05]
- Continue to update the STV website, http://www.stv.umb.edu that doubles as source for flyers publicizing the Program and current semester's course offerings. [done in 05-06] [**]
- Advisors distribute up to date flyers before pre-registration
- Keep up to date the list of advisors, course, office hours on the website. [done in 05-06] [**]
Communication with faculty and student advisors
- Create awareness among pre-med, honors, and other student advisors of STV (noting that medical schools are interested in students who are not straight undergrad. sci. majors). [**]
- Create awareness among Nursing and Management faculty advisors of STV as a concentration available outside CSM & CLA.
- Connect with CSM & CLA deans, chairs & faculty in CSM & CLA to describe the push being made to "grow" STV. [Done in 04-05]
- Convene joint meeting of STV and Evtl. Studies advisory boards to address common challenges and share experience. [**]
Goal 2: Maintain a regular and rich set of courses to fulfill STV requirements
Create a 200-level course that fulfills a NS distribution requirement.
Arrange replacements for the core courses Diane Paul taught.
Explore tighter collaboration with the Honors program in planning course offerings.
Encourage STV associates and other faculty to develop additional STV courses, which may be easier once as they come to feel that STV is an active area on campus.
Encourage faculty to propose an STV strand into job descriptions for future hires in their departments. Promote this idea with departmental chairs and deans.
Goal 3: Build a community of faculty and students around the program
so that students know about and take courses, and faculty distribute the publicity flyers, direct students to the courses, initiate new courses, and propose an STV strand into job descriptions for future hires in their departments.
Host an Intercollege faculty Seminar in Humanities and Sciences each year. [done in 05-06] [**]
Convene monthly seminars of STV associates in the semester when ISHS is not running.
Distribute email news via listserv (stvnews@yahoogroups.com)
Goal 4: Build external recognition for the program
Continuation of an annual "New England Workshop on Science and Social Change," http://www.stv.umb.edu/newssc.html [done in 05-06], [**]
Last update 12 Aug. '06