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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SCIENCE STUDIES AT USC
History of Science is as old as our interest in the history of ideas.
This century witnessed the emergence of Philosophy and Sociology of
Science. More recently these areas of inquiry have been joined by
Psychology, Rhetoric, and Anthropology of Science. Also, their scope
has expanded to include "Science, Technology, and Medicine." All of
this contributes to Science Studies as an interdisciplinary
investigation of historical and contemporary aspects of science,
medicine, and technology.
WHAT CAN SCIENCE STUDIES OFFER STUDENTS AT USC?
Science Studies provide a meeting ground for science and non-science
students:
- If you study Liberal Arts, you may want to gain respect for
scientific reasoning and an appreciation of creativity in science
without having to memorize definitions and formulae. Science Studies is
for you.
- If you are a pre-med student, a science or engineering major, you
will be interested in the relation of science and society. How did the
current theories become the theories that carried the day? Do
scientists have an ethical and political reponsibility towards
society? Are there radically different ways of "doing science"?
WHAT CAN THE SCIENCE STUDIES GROUP OFFER FACULTY AND
GRADUATE STUDENTS AT USC?
The University of South Carolina has no Science Studies Center, no
"Institute for the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science,
Technology, and Medicine," not even a History of Science Department.
Nevertheless, there are many people scattered throughout South Carolina
who work on various historical or contemporary aspects of Science,
Medicine, and Technology. Also, there are many scientists with interests
in the history, methodology, or social relations of their fields. The
Science Studies Group is an attempt to bring us together. It serves as a
forum to introduce ourselves to one another.
- On a regular basis one or two members of the Science Studies Group
give brief informal presentations about their interests in Science
Studies. See the
calendar
of events.
- The Science Studies Group co-sponsors lectures, panel-discussions,
field-trips. Previous visitors included historian of science and
medicine Maria Trumpler, historian of technology Pamela Mack, physicist
Alan Sokal, biochemist Robert Shulman, and bioethicist Rosemarie Tong.
Anyone can join the Science Studies Group or participate in any of its
activities. For more information contact Otávio Bueno
or Davis Baird.
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