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 136-066 Risk, Environment and Modernity

Note

Formerly available as 136-418. Students who have completed 136-418 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. This subject is also available for postgraduate coursework enrolments. This subject may be cancelled unless enrolments reach five.

Credit Points

12.5

HECS Band

1

Coordinator

Dr Rosemary Robins

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

A 2-hour seminar per week

Subject Description

This subject will critically examine recent sociological approaches to risk in relation to science, technology, the environment, human health and modernity. Sociological approaches to risk will be discussed in relation to case studies in which the assessment and management of risk is central. Case studies will be based on specific environmental disputes, public health issues or new technological developments, and will explore the perception of risk held by different stakeholder groups, the role of scientific and technical expertise in risk assessment and the public understanding of science, technology and risk. Students should complete the subject with a knowledge of current social theories of risk and modernity and the debates these have generated within social theory and science and technology studies.

Assessment

Written work totalling 5000 words, comprising five abstracts of 300 words each, and a research essay of 3500 words.

Prescribed Texts

  • S Lash, B Szerszynski & B Wynne (eds), Risk Environment & Modernity: Towards a New Ecology. Sage, London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, 1996.


Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : History and Philosophy of Science
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