Science, Technology, and Politics UGS 303 Signature Course

Transcription

1 Science, Technology, and Politics UGS 303 Signature Course Professor: Dr. Rachel Wellhausen but Canvas message preferred) Office hours: M 1-4 (Batts 4.138) TA: TBD Lectures: MW (PAR 201) Sections: F (CAL 21) (62245) F (CAL 21) (62250) F 12-1 (CAL 21) (62255) Course Description: Most fights over contemporary science and technology are rooted in classic political problems of power, scarcity, and the distribution of resources. This course will examine politics in the United States and abroad around issues such as intellectual property rights, health and environmental policy, defense procurement, manufacturing policy, and R&D funding. We will learn and apply foundational theories in political science to understand how voters and politicians understand science and how scientific knowledge is incorporated (or not) into public policy. What are the limits of government in making ethical or optimal decisions about science and technology? This course relies heavily on several core articles from the social sciences as well as contemporary readings from a variety of academic and journalistic sources. All of the readings are available on Canvas. We reserve the right to change readings based on our progress during the semester. Please reference the course s Canvas page for the latest updates. On Canvas, be sure to enable s from the professor and TA, as these will be the primary form of communication during the semester. Signature Course Mission and Course Essentials: The Signature Courses at the University of Texas at Austin will connect students with distinguished faculty members in unique learning environments. By way of this rigorous intellectual experience, students will develop college-level skills in research, writing, speaking, and discussion through an approach that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, experiential, and contemporary. The course will address the Signature Course essentials in the following ways: Writing (60% of grade) o 3-page Essay 1: Rough draft (5%) and final draft (15%) o 5-page Essay 2: Rough draft (5%) and final draft (15%) o Take-home Essay Final (20%)

2 2 Oral communication (25% of grade) o Oral presentation (15%): Small group presentation applying a theory learned in the course to a political controversy around science and technology. o Discussion (10%): Mandatory attendance and participation in section. Absences from section and/or attendance without participation will negatively affect the grade. University Gem (5% of grade): Short report on museum exhibit. Information literacy (5% of grade): Short assignment on research strategy. University Lecture Series (5% of grade): Attend or watch a recording of one lecture and complete an assignment. Grading Policy: Absolutely no late assignments will be accepted or alternate exam arrangements made, with the exception of an illness, a university-approved function, or death in the immediate family that clearly interferes with your ability to finish the assignment on time. Documentation is required for each of the above and you are required to inform the TA and professor before the deadline or scheduled exam time. Failure to notify the TA and professor will result in a zero for the assignment or exam. Grade scale: (final grades rounded to the nearest whole number) 93 and above A A B B B C C C D D D- 59 and below F Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct: All violations of university academic conduct guidelines, including plagiarism, will be referred to the Dean of Students and will result in a zero on the assignment or exam in question. Plagiarism is the use of others ideas or work without credit and/or presenting derivative work as one s own. This includes, but is not limited to, cutting and pasting from someone else s work or an internet source, failing to identify exact quotes, failing to cite a source for information that is only available from that source, failing to cite a source for an idea or argument you borrowed from that source, and turning in work that is not your own. When in doubt, cite.

3 3 University Honor Code: The core values of the University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness and respect towards peers and community. Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): Disability Accommodations: Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities ( , ddce.utexas.edu/disability). Notice regarding Accommodations for Religious Holidays: By UT Austin policy, you must notify the professor of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. Emergency Evacuation Policy: Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside. Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building. Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first week of class. In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors. Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office. Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: utexas.edu/emergency. Schedule, Assignments, and Readings: INTRODUCTION 20 Jan Introduction: Normative v. positive Assignment: UT Gem Report (due on Canvas, by 10 AM on 29 Jan) Assignment: University Lecture Series (due on last day of class)

4 4 22 Jan How does science work in politics? Reading: Pielke, Jr., R.A. 28 March Policy, Politics, and Perspective. Nature 416: THEORY Why Government Gets Involved 25 Jan Externalities Reading: Coase, Ronald The Problem of Social Cost. Journal of Law and Economics 3: Jan Tragedy of the commons Reading: Hardin, Garrett The Tragedy of the Commons. Science 162(3859): Jan (Section) Using theory Due: University Gem short report (due on Canvas, by 10 AM) How Policies Change 1 Feb Collective action Reading: Olson, Mancur Chapter 2: The Logic. In The Rise and Decline of Nations. New Haven: Yale University Press. 3 Feb Free riding Reading: The Free Rider Problem. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 21 May ( 5 Feb (Section) Case study: Human subjects Video: The Research Clinic. Office of Research Integrity, US Department of Health and Human Services. ( Assignment: Essay 1 (due on Canvas, by 10 AM on 19 Feb; bring paper or electronic copy to Section) Dealing with Uncertainty 8 Feb Precautionary principle

5 5 Reading: Summary of Late Lessons from Early Warnings: Science, Precaution, Innovation. European Environment Agency: 23 January Read pp Skim pp Read pp Feb Science-based precaution? Reading: Weiss, Charles Can There Be Science-Based Precaution? Environmental Research Letters 1: 1-7. ( 12 Feb (Section) Failure and uncertainty Podcast: Listen to Helga Nowotny on BBC Radio 4. 2 November (Available on Canvas, 43 min) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS Environment 15 Feb Introduction Reading: Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. Chapter 13: The Environment. World Politics, 3 rd Edition. WW Norton, Feb Policymaking strategy Reading: Low, Bobbi S. and Matt Ridley. September Can Selfishness Save the Environment? The Atlantic. ( 19 Feb (Section) Peer review Due: Essay 1 (by 10 AM, bring paper or electronic copy to Section) Assignment: Essay 1 revisions (due on Canvas, by 10 AM on 12 Feb) ** If you will miss this Section, you must arrange with the TA in advance to do your peer review. 22 Feb Paris agreement on climate change Reading: Green, Jessica F. 1 December Wondering what s different about the Paris climate change negotiations? Here s what you need to know. Washington Post: Monkey Cage. ( Reading: Monastersky, Richard and Nick Sousanis. 24 November Comic: The Fragile Framework. Nature. ( 24 Feb International relations and climate change Reading: Keohane, Robert O. and David G. Victor The Regime Complex for Climate Change. Perspectives on Politics 9(1): 7-23.

6 6 26 Feb (Section) Case study: Argentina Due: Revised Essay 1 (due on Canvas, by 10 AM) Security 29 Feb Introduction Reading: Wolfe, Audra. 25 September When Scientists Do What Diplomats Can t. The Atlantic. ( 2 Mar Iran deal Reading: Lake, David. 16 July The Iran Deal is Pretty Damn Attractive Given the Alternatives. Political a Glance. ( Nelson, Amy. 5 December The Iran Nuclear Deal is Actually Far from Over. Washington Post: Monkey Cage. ( 4 Mar (Section) Researching controversy In-class Assignment: Information literacy ** If you will miss this Section, you must arrange with the TA in advance to do an alternative assignment. 7 Mar Dual-use technology Selgelid, Michael J Governance of Dual-use Research: An Ethical Dilemma. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 87: ( 9 Mar Library session (details TBD) 11 Mar (Section) Cancelled (Essay announced via Canvas) Assignment: Essay 2 (Due on Canvas, by 10 AM on 25 Mar; bring paper or electronic copy to Section) (Spring Break) Intellectual Property 21 Mar Introduction Reading: Besen, Stanley M. and Leo J. Raskind An Introduction to the Law and Economics of Intellectual Property. The Journal of Economic Perspectives 5(1): 3-27.

7 7 23 Mar Development and intellectual property Readings: Stiglitz, Joseph E. 5 August Intellectual-Property Rights and Wrongs. Project Syndicate. ( Hunter, Rod. 17 February Intellectual Property and Economic Development. Project Syndicate ( 25 Mar (Section) Peer review Due: Essay 2 (by 10 AM, bring paper or electronic copy to Section) Assignment: Essay 2 revisions (due on Canvas, by 10 AM on 1 Apr) ** If you will miss this Section, you must arrange with the TA in advance to do your peer review. 28 Mar International cooperation on intellectual property Readings: Intellectual property: Protection and enforcement Understanding the WTO: The Agreements. ( Explore the website of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ( 30 Mar Consequences of complex international IP institutions Helfer, Laurence R Regime Shifting in the International Intellectual Property System. Perspectives on Politics 7(1): Apr (Section) Case Study: Patenting genes Reading: Intellectual Property and Genomics. National Human Genome Research Institute. ( Due: Revised Essay 2 (due on Canvas, by 10 AM) Assignment: Oral presentations Agriculture 4 Apr India s Green Revolution and GMOs Audio: Zwerdling, Daniel April India s Farming Revolution Heading for Collapse. NPR All Things Considered. ( and ( Siegel, Robert. 26 March Father of Green Revolution Derides Organic Movement. NPR All Things Considered. ( 6 Apr Agribusiness Readings: Barlett, Donald L. and James B. Steele. 30 April Monsanto s Harvest of Fear. The Aughts: Vanity Fair.

8 8 ( Fedoroff, Nina. 25 July Can We Trust Monsanto with Our Food? Scientific American. ( 8 Apr (Section) Case study: Trans fats Readings: Belluz, Julia. 17 June Why it took the FDA nearly 40 years to ban trans fats. Vox.com. ( Dennis, Brady. 16 June The 100-year-old scientist who pushed the FD to ban artificial trans fat. The Washington Post. ( Telecommunications 11 Apr Politics of regulation Reading: Wu, Irene Who Regulates Phones, Television, and the Internet? What Makes a Communications Regulator Independent and Why It Matters. Perspectives on Politics 6(4): Apr Social media and democracy Video: Morozov, Evgeny How the Net Aids Dictatorships. TedGlobal. ( Video: Ghonim, Wael Inside the Egyptian Revolution. TED2011. ( 15 Apr (Section) Case study: Net neutrality Reading: Steimle, Josh. 14 May Am I The Only Techie Against Net Neutrality? Forbes. ( Innovation 18 Apr US competitiveness Reading: Pisano, Gary P. and Willy C. Shih. July-August Restoring American Competitiveness. Harvard Business Review. 20 Apr US industrial policy Readings: Phillips, Kevin P. July-August US Industrial Policy: Inevitable and Ineffective. Harvard Business Review. Salam, Reihan. 28 December America s New-Old Industrial Policy. Forbes. (

9 9 22 Apr (Section) Case study: Solyndra Reading: Doom, Justin. 12 November US Expects $5 billion from Program that Funded Solyndra. Bloomberg Business. ( 25 Apr Innovation abroad: Renewables in China Reading: Nahm, Jonas and Edward S. Steinfeld The Role of Innovative Manufacturing in High-Tech Product Development: Evidence from China s Renewable Energy Sector. In Production in the Innovation Economy (eds Richard Locke and Rachel Wellhausen), MIT Press. 27 Apr Innovation abroad: Civilian nuclear Reading: Metzler, Florian and Edward S. Steinfeld Sustaining Global Competitiveness in the Provision of Complex Product Systems: The Case of Civilian Nuclear Power Technology. In Production in the Innovation Economy (eds Richard Locke and Rachel Wellhausen), MIT Press. 29 Apr (Section) Oral presentations Policing Science 2 May Who monitors scientists? Reading: Jasanoff, Shiela. 8 April Watching the watchers: lessons from the science of science advice. The Guardian. ( Reading: Jasanoff, Shiela et al. 7 April Human Genetic Engineering Demands More than a Moratorium. The Guardian. ( 4 May Case study: Home-brewed opiates Reading: Oye, Kenneth, Chappell Lawson, and Tania Bubela. 18 May Drugs: Regulate home-brew opiates. Nature. ( 6 May (Section) Oral presentations Due: University Lecture Series (due on Canvas, by 10 AM) Assignment: Take-home Final (due on Canvas, by 10 AM on May 14) 14 May Due: Take-home Final (due on Canvas, by 10 AM)