General provisions

The centre for gender research is responsible for this course. This course is obligatory for students reading the Master's programme in the Humanities - Gender Studies. Priority is given to students reading this programme.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university

Learning outcomes

Following successful completion of the course students will be able to:

- Independently identify, discuss and critically relate to various theoretical debates within the field of Science Studies.

- Connect gender studies theories to debates around nature and scientific knowledge.

- Identify and problematise the ways in which power operates within discussions of Nature Science and Technology.

- Actively participate in seminar discussions and present written and oral arguments in the independent and critical manner expected at the advanced level

Content

Given the power of Science and narratives of Nature it is crucial to examine how notions of nature and scientific knowledge is produced as well as critically examining what is produced. The core focus is to examine how power operates in the ways that 'science' and 'nature' are constructed and operate. The course takes as its foundation that Science and Nature are not pre-existing 'things' but subject to social processes and cultural norms. It is therefore imperative to examine how social and cultural values influence scientific traditions, how scientific knowledge is produced, and the implications of what is produced through various scientific epistemologies. With the specific help of Feminist and Gender studies theories and approaches this course introduces students to a range of historical and contemporary debates about the production of Nature and Scientific knowledge and their implications. Students are then encouraged to interrogate, problematise and apply these perspectives in relation to each other as well as to various contemporary issues.

Instruction

The course is delivered through a series of lectures and/or seminars.

Assessment

Examination forms include an active participation in the seminars; student led seminars; and a written paper based on the theme of the course. All essays will undergo a plagiarism check.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.