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Brief Introduction to STS Studies in China and Thinking About Some Problems in Current STS Education. Chen Fan, Ma Huiduan Research Center for Science, Technology and Society, School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R. China 110004. Content of the report.
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Brief Introduction to STS Studies in China and Thinking About Some Problems in Current STS Education Chen Fan, Ma Huiduan Research Center for Science, Technology and Society, School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R. China 110004
Content of the report • the Formation and Development of STS studies in China • the Nature and Study Route of STS studies in China • the content of STS studies in China • the characteristic and problem about STS studies in China • thinking about problems in current STS education in China.
Part I Brief Introduction to STS Studies in China 一、the Formation and Development of STS Studies in China
the 4 historical stages of STS studies in China (1)Early in 20 century :the origination for STS studies in China. (2)Since 1940’s and 1950’s :The STS studies in this period of China, was in the guidance of Marxism Philosophy. (3)Since 1970’s and 1980’s:STS studies in china flourished, but there was no independent STS discipline. (4) Since the end of 20 century and the beginning of 21 century: STS studies spreading from both the theoretical aspect and the realistic aspect, and geared to international academia little by little.
2. The Emergence of STS study organizations in China. The organization of STS study in China has went through 2 stages: • before 1990’s, the pre-institutionalized stage • after 1990’s, the institutionalized stage
Stage 1: STS studies has emerged in China, but it has not been institutionalized, the studies has been developed within the academic circles of China Society for Philosophy of Science and Technology (CSPT). STS Association has not been founded. But some semi-specialization STS study institutes have been established.
Stage 2: institutionalized Stage--Special organization of STS Study emerged, special STS conferences have been held, special STS books and paper have been published. 1)Special STS papers have been published. 2) Special STS Organization came into being
3) Special STS conferences have been held • in 1990, the 1st national STS conference was held in Xi An, conference subject: “New Scientific & Technological Revolution and the Development of Era”; • in 1992, the 2nd national STS conference was held in Wu Han, conference subject: “Market Economy and Technology Progress”; • in 1994, the 3rd national STS conference was held in Shen Zhen, conference subject: “the Social Conditions for the Development of Science and Technology”; • in 1995, the 4th national STS conference was held in Gui Yang, conference subject: “Science & Technology and China’s western expansion”; • in 1996, the 5th national STS conference was held in Nan Jing, conference subject: “the Impact on the Growth Fashion of Economy by the Progress of Science & Technology”; • in 2007, the most recent national STS conference was held in Shen Yang, by Northeastern University, conference subject: “STS and Globalization”;
4) Special STS books have published • “Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society”, 1997, explores the origin and study program of STS; • “Modern Science and Thinking Mode’(1990) • “Mathematics and Culture”(1990) • “Life Science and Human Civilization”(1994) • “the Status Quo and Future of Chinese High-Technology”(1995) • “the Development of Modern Science, Technology and society in China”(1997). • “High Science and Technology and Humanisim”(2000); • “the Revolution of Science and Technology and Modern Siciety”(2003); • Chen Fan, Zhang Ming guo, “Analysis of Technology: the Mutual Action between Technology, Society and Cultural”, (2002); • “the Theory and Practice of STS Education”(1999); • Chen Fan: “Introduction to Technological Socialization”, 1995.
二、discussion about the Nature and Study Route of STS in China (1)STS--Science and Technology Studies (2)STS--science, technology and society
1)about the first kind of STS, that is, “Science and Technology Studies”, we have different views about its study; 2)about the term “Science, Technology and society”, we also have different views about it;
三、the Content of STS Study in China • Theoretical study of STS 2) Applied Study of STS
1. in theoretical study of STS, Chinese scholars begin to focus on the following 5 subjects: • Scientism and STS • Humanism and STS • Theory of Technological Dominion and STS • Theory of Social Criticism and STS • Postmodernism and STS 2. in applied study of STS, Chinese scholars begin to focus on the following subjects: • use the theoretical achievement to study social problems. Mainly focus on three aspects: • science technology and public policy • science technology and environment, ecology, energy, population, etc. • STS education
四、The character, Conclusion and Problems about STS studies in China 1)It is paid high attention by the government, and under the guidance of Marxism Philosophy. 2)the STS study in China pays more attention to Chinese National Situation, much of the study is about applied STS study; combines with social problems such as politics, economy, culture, combines closely with school education. 3)the STS study in China is still in the stage of exploration and introduction, we are seeking the Euro-American study content and paradigm; the theoretical study by ourselves is not enough. 4)the STS study in China is mainly descriptive, but not Normative; 5)the Institutionalization of STS study in China is not yet mature. 6)STS community and educational departments lack qualified and cultivated staff. 7)the STS study in China have many controversy:
Part II Thinking about Problems in Current STS Education in China • We have the following Problems: 1)what should exactly be the purpose of STS education? 2)What should exactly be the content of STS education? 3)What should exactly be the levels of STS education?
1. what is exactly the purpose of STS education? • The primary understanding of STS education should be that, it is different from traditional education, can not limit to specialization education and department instruction. • What should be paid attention to is: how to make these purpose be standardized? How to realize these purpose? It is worthy of considered by us. • about the purpose of STS education, should be oriented on the purpose of educational practice which is based on investigation and demonstration about social reality, or just be oriented on the purpose of educational theory which is based on general, universal permeation and cultivation of STS knowledge or consciousness?
2. what is exactly the content of STS education? • Some scholars argue that, what is important for the content of STS education should be enlarging or extending the knowledge system of the students, and improving the knowledge structure of students. • “to produce students truly literate in science, attempts to reform general education need to place importance on the broader, social-cultural aspects of science in the curriculum, and not just increasing focus on science content itself”.
3. What is exactly the level for STS education? • According to many scholars, STS education should be carried out from middle school to high school then to university, even begin from primary school. • “How to impart or teach profound Scientific and technological epistemology to students in middle school even or primary school”?
Conclusion 1)compared with other disciplines ,want anything else can STS do? 2)What is the relationship between STS and other disciplines? STS include them or parallel with them? 3)Does STS has any its own core concepts or method which making it different from other study field or disciplines? What is the ideal content of the STS course? 4)Is there any core literature which is well known by STS scholars or students? 5)What is the demand quantity about the STS teaching materials in levels for undergraduate students? What is the demand quantity about it in the level for graduate students? 6)In all the education which includes scientific major and technological major, should STS education be the essential part? If it is, which grade will be proper for such education?