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Debating Science in Society (HPSC10003)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Email: mvarnold@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
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The university is not just a place to learn facts, it is also a place of argument, where ideas are contested. In this subject students will attend debates conducted by academics arguing about some of the most important issues in contemporary science and society. The subject places scientific debate in the context of current social and cultural issues, and illustrates how current social and cultural thinking is shaped by scientific controversy. Each week we will take up a contentious issue, and students will hear a lecture clearly arguing for one position, followed by a lecture clearly arguing for a different position. In each case your lecturers will do their best to persuade you of their position. The challenge for students in the tutorials and assessment tasks is to judge what is at issue, weigh the evidence, and determine which case is strongest.
Weekly debates will be selected from among the following controversial propositions:
- Genetically modified crops are the only way to feed the masses.
- Nuclear fuel is the future of energy production.
- Science and technology is the path to utopia.
- Humans will become Post-human.
- The scientific method is the only way to truly know.
- Catastrophic climate change can be averted.
- There is a physical explanation for everything that exists and everything that happens.
- Digital media is making us stupid.
- A machine more intelligent than you will exist in your lifetime.
- Our history is fundamentally shaped by science and technology.
- This has been a waste of time: controversies cannot be resolved through rational debate.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- Understand that many important issues in science and technology are not settled.
- Develop an understanding of the particularities of important debates in science and technology, and the reasons that different positions are taken in respect of each issue.
- Develop the capacity to critically weigh contrasting evidence and argument and to reach defensible and persuasive conclusions based on evidence and argument.
- Acquire skills in clear, coherent and persuasive written and oral presentation.
- Begin to develop an understanding of the empirical, methodological, epistemological, and social and cultural foundations of controversies in science and technology
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- Develop the clear thinking skills required to assess the validity of an argument.
- Develop effective written and oral communication and presentation skills.
- Extend their capacity to read effectively and to conduct wider research.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
Tutorial Paper and Presentation
A 1600 word tutorial paper and presentation which judges what is at issue, weighs the evidence, and argues which case is strongest. Assessment will factor in presentation skills, the ability to structure an argument, the research undertaken, and the quality of the written work. Students address one debate for their tutorial paper and presentation; the debate occurs during the lecture, the presentation occurs during the tutorial on the week of the debate, and the paper is due three days after the presentation.
Tutorial Papers
Students complete two tutorial papers offering constructive criticism of arguments presented in two debates. Each paper must address a different debate, and each paper must address a debate in a different group of debates (Science and the Environment, Science and Technology, Scientific Methods). These papers do not provide an overall assessment of a debate. Rather, these papers offer constructive criticism of specific arguments presented by one side of a debate.
- Paper 1. A 1200 word paper constructively criticising one side of a debate in terms of its weaknesses of omission and/or commission. This paper is due within 7 days of the relevant debate and is due by week 7 of semester. Failure to do so will attract the standard late penalty.
- Paper 2. A 1200 word paper constructively criticising one side of a debate in terms of its weaknesses of omission and/or commission. This paper must address a debate in a different group to paper 1 and is due within 7 days of the relevant debate. Failure to do so will attract the standard late penalty.
Hurdle Requirements
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Michael Arnold Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 hours - A 1 hour lecture in week 1 followed by 2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week in weeks 2-12 Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 29 July 2019 to 27 October 2019 Last self-enrol date 9 August 2019 Census date 31 August 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 September 2019 Assessment period ends 22 November 2019 Semester 2 contact information
Email: mvarnold@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings for each week’s topics will be made available on the LMS before the beginning of the semester.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major History and Philosophy of Science - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024