Experimental history of science II
HUM-466 / 3 crédits
Enseignant: Mihailescu Ion-Gabriel
Langue: Anglais
Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.
Remark: Une seule inscription à un cours SHS+MGT autorisée. En cas d'inscriptions multiples elles seront toutes supprimées sans notification.
Summary
The course allows students to learn by doing about the history of science, and the role played by experimentation, technical skills or material objects in the production of knowledge. Students will explore these topics by reconstructing a historical experiment, instrument or practice.
Content
The Spring semester is devoted to the practical realization of the students' projects. Students are
expected to work autonomously in the various laboratories and workshops necessary for their projects.
For further advice and directions, the instructor will be available on demand during the weekly dedicated hours.
Keywords
re-enactment, past experiments, learning by doing, history of science, practices, artefacts, tacit knowledge
POLY-perspective :
- creative perspective
- interdisciplinary perspective
https://www.epfl.ch/schools/cdh/cdhs-vision/
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Identify important research questions in the history of science.
- Formulate a problematic and hypothesis.
- Analyze historical sources.
- Interpret historical artefacts.
- Assess / Evaluate the tacit and technical skills involved in the production of knowledge.
- Critique historical accounts and their own scientific skills.
- Construct an argument.
Transversal skills
- Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
- Assess progress against the plan, and adapt the plan as appropriate.
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Teaching methods
The course relies on the teaching method of learning by doing. We consider this to be a particularly appropriate method for imparting knowledge about the history of science.
Spring semester: group work under supervision.
Expected student activities
The Spring semester is dedicated to autonomous practical work. Students are expected to present
orally the advancement of their project during a mid-semester session. At the end of the semester, students are expected to present their research and hand a final report on their activities and findings.
Assessment methods
Independent evaluation at the end of both the autumn and spring term (grade associated to 3 ECTS).
Spring term:
- Mid-semester oral presentation (20%)
- Final oral presentation (40%)
- Final written report (40%)
Supervision
Office hours | Yes |
Assistants | No |
Forum | Yes |
Others |
Resources
Bibliography
Ressources en bibliothèque
- Fors, Hjalmar, Lawrence H. Principe, and H. Otto Sibum. âFrom the Library to the Laboratory and Back Again: Experiment as a Tool for Historians of Science.â
- Smith, Pamela H., Amy R. W. Meyers, and Harold J. Cook, eds. Ways of Making and Knowing: The Material Culture of Empirical Knowledge
- Long, Pamela O. Artisan/Practitioners and the Rise of the New Sciences, 1400-1600
- Polanyi, Michael. The Tacit Dimension
Moodle Link
Dans les plans d'études
- Semestre: Printemps
- Nombre de places: 33
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'été)
- Matière examinée: Experimental history of science II
- Projet: 3 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
Semaine de référence
Lu | Ma | Me | Je | Ve | |
8-9 | |||||
9-10 | |||||
10-11 | |||||
11-12 | |||||
12-13 | |||||
13-14 | |||||
14-15 | |||||
15-16 | |||||
16-17 | |||||
17-18 | |||||
18-19 | |||||
19-20 | |||||
20-21 | |||||
21-22 |
Légendes:
Cours
Exercice, TP
Projet, autre