This is an optional module for the MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technologies and the various MA/MRes in Politics and International Relations pathways. It aims to provide students with an overview of key concepts, debates, processes and discourses in relation to decision-making on complex technologies. Issues such as GM crops, wind-farms and nuclear energy have provoked significant controversy, and protest. Battles over these issues have posed problems for policy-makers and raised questions about the balance between public involvement and expert knowledge in decision-making. Students will prepare a detailed research report on a complex technology, assessing the interests at stake, the political actors and the consequences of policy-decisions.
will be achieved by assessments: 1&2
Identify, and be able to distinguish between, a variety of perspectives on decision-making on environmental technologies.
will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Identify why complex technologies are often controversial and pose challenges for policy makers will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Produce an in-depth analysis of decision-making on one particular contemporary complex technology drawing on one or more relevant theoretical perspectives. will be achieved by assessments: 2
Persuasively communicate conclusions formed through research and critical analysis in both written and verbal form. will be achieved by assessments: 1 &2
Deliver an effective presentation using PowerPoint. will be achieved by assessments: 1
60 hours: seminar preparation
20 hours: presentation preparation
50 hours: independent research, reflection and writing
Students will give one 15-minute presentation on the key themes of a required reading and lead a seminar discussion or debate on the issues raised. They will also prepare a 1 page $ùworksheet&© for distribution that will assist peer learning.
Students will prepare a research report of 5,000 words on one of the case studies of a complex technology. This will be structured to require coverage of the legitimacy, interests and consequences of decision-making in the relevant case. Cast studies will be from a list provided by the teaching staff.
This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.