Phasing-out, innovation through withdrawal II

Summary

The course aims at the acquisition of concepts and methods of Science and Technology Studies in order to learn how to decipher the intricacies of science and technology in society by mobilizing these elements in relation to the general issues addressed in the teaching of innovation by withdrawal.

Content

Keywords

Invention, innovation, diffusion, dynamic of use, shaping of technologies, ocio-technical network.

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Science, technology and society I

Recommended courses

HUM-229 - Science, technologie et société B - Science and engineering in action

Important concepts to start the course

invention, innovation (different sub-concepts), dissemination, translation

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Conduct a study on an innovation product or process
• Formulate an hypotesis on the innovation dynamics process
• Interpret the data collected during the study

Transversal skills

• Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
• Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
• Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
• Collect data.
• Write a scientific or technical report.

Teaching methods

Seminar and follow-up of the preliminary work in the research project, individually or in small groups. It can rely on work experience in business, with a distanced examination of professional practice.

Expected student activities

• Writing of a paper which could be published into scientific book or journal.    

Assessment methods

Spring semester evaluation is about the written paper (a contribution to the understanding of on processes in an ongoing innovation); it will be validated if publishable. The professor is in charge to negotiate the publication with a scientific publisher. 

Supervision

Resources

Bibliography

• Vinck D. (2010), The sociology of scientific work, Cheltenham : Edward Elgar. (French version: Sciences et société. Sociologie du travail scientifique. Paris : Armand Colin, 2007 ; spannish version: Ciencias y sociedad, Barcelona : Gedisa, 2014).
• Vinck D. (2003), Everyday engineering. Everyday engineering. Ethnography of design and innovation. Cambridge MA : MIT. (French version, Ingénieurs au quotidien. Ethnographie de l'activiteé de conception et d'innovation, Grenoble : PUG, 2000 ; portuguese version Engenhieros no Cotidiano. Etnografia da Atividade de Projeto e Inovaçaõ, Bello Horizonte : Fabrefactum, 2013).

Journals
• Revue d'Anthropologie des Connaissances ; Science, Technology and Human Values ; Social Studies of Science ; Science and Technology Studies ; Engineering studies. 

Ressources en bibliothèque

• Vinck D. (2017), Critical Studies of Innovation. Alternative Approaches to the Pro-Innovation Bias
• Goulet F., Vinck D. (2022), Faire sans, faire avec moins. Les nouveaux horizons de l'innovation
• Godin, B., Gaglio, G., Vinck, D. (eds.) (2021). Handbook on Alternative Theories of Innovation
• Bonneuil C., Joly P.B. (2013), Sciences, techniques et société
• Vinck D. (2007), Sciences et société. Sociologie du travail scientifique
• Vinck D. (2000), Ingénieurs au quotidien. Ethnographie de l'activité de conception et d'innovation

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/HUM-426