Module SOCM016 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
SOCM016: Cultures of the Life Sciences
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
This module provides a thorough introduction to contemporary and historical practices in the biological and biomedical sciences, and will draw on scientific, philosophical, historical and sociological literature to do so. This module focuses on the ways in which biological knowledge is produced, from the collection and description of species in natural history to the use of models, computation, digital publishing and data-sharing in contemporary biotechnology. Students will investigate the relation between the knowledge produced within the biomedical sciences and the infrastructures, legal norms, instruments, institutions and socio-historical conditions under which such knowledge is achieved. Important historical developments will be dealt with in relation to contemporary shifts in biological practice and theory. As a result, students will be able to critically assess the relevance of material, social and economic conditions for the production and future of biomedical knowledge.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate an understanding of many of the basic conceptual issues and challenges at stake in the life sciences, 2. demonstrate in writing an ability to philosophically analyse the ways in which these problems have been and/or could be addressed 3. demonstrate in writing an ability to understand both contemporary and historical aspects of biology in a wide conceptual context and to think across discipline-specific boundaries. |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. demonstrate in writing and orally a well-developed ability to understand and analyse scientific theories and philosophical arguments 5. demonstrate in writing and orally an understanding of the role and importance of detailed empirical work for philosophical understanding |
Personal and Key Skills | 6. demonstrate an independent ability to construct their own arguments and critically evaluate the ideas and arguments of others, both orally and in writing 7. demonstrate in writing able to show they have acquired precision of thought and expression in the analysis and formulation of complex problems. Students will also be able to identify and locate appropriate literature, and write cogent and convincing essay |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Topics will be drawn from the following:
Natural history and the role of classification in biology
Experimental practices
Modelling practices
Data sharing and intellectual property
Publishing practices
The role of concepts such as ‘gene’
Bioinformatics and the role of computers in biology
Sociopolitics of biology
Relations between biology and medicine
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
23 | 277 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
scheduled learning activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour lectures |
scheduled learning activity | 1 | 1 hour writing tutorial (in preparation for essay writing) |
Guided independent study | 110 | 11 x 10 hours of course readings |
Guided independent study | 40 | Preparation of presentation |
Guided independent study | 127 | Reading/research for and writing of essay |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Web based and electronic resources:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/