P.hd in Studies in Science Policy:Risks and Ethics in Science and Technology Studies

P.hd in Studies in Science Policy:Risks and Ethics in Science and Technology Studies

The Centre offers M.Phil/Ph.D. and direct Ph.D. programmes. The M.Phil. programme requires completion of 24 credits in four semesters. Direct Ph.D. programme is open to scholars who have completed an M.Phil. degree in one of the social or natural science disciplines or demonstrated their research capability by way of equivalent published work in science policy studies. The Centre strongly recommends such direct Ph.D. scholars to audit courses at the M.Phil. level for two semesters while pursuing research.

Analysis in Science and Technology Policy
Research Methodology
Science and Technology in a Social Context
Technology Futures Analysis
Economics of Technological Change Innovation Systems
Technology, Environmentalism and Sustainable Development
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR):A Foundation Course

It is widely acknowledged that ‘risk' is critical to the evolving social and political dimensions of modern science and technology studies (STS). STS studies is now compelled to engage with the idea of what Ulrich Beck has termed as the modern dilemma of the ‘risk society'. As Beck has insightfully stated, risk society is not simply about developing responses to the innumerable threats and hazards posed by modern science and technology but centrally involves evolving new types of social relations and arrangements to cope with manufactured risk.

As a broad research theme, studies on risk have further enabled the welding of the social sciences with that of the natural sciences. Thus, studies on risk have become an exciting academic frontier in areas such as bio-safety, genetic engineering, toxic pollution, stem cell research etc. These research concerns have also been fruitfully coupled with questions and debates about equity, access and benefit sharing in the fields of modern biology, biotechnology, agriculture sciences, information and communication technologies and medicine.

Significantly as well, studies on risk society are also increasingly being complemented by the rapid development of academic interest in the varied relationships between ‘ethics' and STS. Values and norms, it is now widely held and established, influence, shape and constrain scientific and technological practices. Thus, the ability to harness and control scientific and technological systems require an ethical engagement; wherein norms and values define and determine social and technological boundaries.

Cleary there is a pressing academic need for developing and further elaborating upon the many questions and research possibilities thrown up by studies on risk and ethics vis-à-vis STS. By putting together a course design and initiating research on such subjects, the CSSP could take the lead in the rapidly emerging and consolidating global interests in themes such as risk, ethics and STS.