Nano Nano: Rhetorical Analysis and Engineering Design in the Study of Nanotechnology
STS 497H, cross listing as EDSGN 497H, and E Sc 497H
Spring 2009
Richard Devon
Richard Doyle
Mark Horn
S T S 497H (20), E S C 497H (10), EDSGN 497H (10) 3 credits.
Spring 2009 TuTh 9:45-11:00 307 Hammond
(No pre-reqs, enrolment in E S C and EDSGN is for eng students with 4+th sem. standg)
How can we understand the extremely large impacts created by extremely small nanotechnologies? Nanotechnology is already on a path to radically transform the production of integrated circuits, materials, clothing, batteries, drug delivery, and our living environment. Some participants even argue that it will transform what it means to be human. How should we prepare for the volatilities, uncertainties and opportunities that inevitably but unpredictably attend even the perception of such transformations in knowledge and technologies? We seek to evolve a highly interactive and open community of teaching and research for the investigation, evaluation and design in the space of all possible transformations of the human environment through nanoscale science and technologies. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this course will help connect stake holders and participants in emerging nanotechnology at a major research university active in the incubation of different nanotechnological futures - Penn State. The course will teach rhetorical analysis and engineering design as the appropriate modalities for understanding the impacts of nanotechnology on society while offering students foundations in nanotechnology(e.g. terminology, historical context, quantities and units, current methods) Together we will ask our students and ourselves, in short: What kind of planet do we wish to design and grow, and how can we get there?
The course will feature visiting talks from local nanotechnology researchers and will culminate in a three day Happy Valley NanoFest featuring student projects and visiting researchers and speakers.
The course will use participatory pedagogy and will require students to give frequent presentations and guide many discussions. They will also form teams for major projects in studies of the potential social, human, and ethical impacts of the nanotechnology research of a Penn State researcher.
Nanotechnology and science research will be presented in a series of lectures and discussions by professor Hark Horn, who directs the Minor in Nanotechnology in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics. Award winning professor Richard Doyle (English, STS) will engage the students in using rhetorical analysis to understand the discourse of nanoscience and technology in human and ethical terms. Richard Devon, professor of engineering design, will use the tools of the design process to study the way ideas and findings go from research to new realities as the number of nano inspired products grows exponentially.
Syllabus
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