Social aspects of biotechnology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the foundational elements from the main disciplines engaged in the societal appraisal of biotechnology and the bioeconomy (Science and Technology Studies (STS), Bioethics, Biolaw, Biopolitics). It is geared to endow students with key insights and methodological resources to develop their critical inquiry of current intertwined developments in biotechnological and societal innovation.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will develop broad awareness of salient issues at the intersection between biotechnological and societal innovation, and the bioeconomy. They will also gain knowledge of, and hands-on experience with, the relevant methodological toolkit to analytically dissect these science-society intersections. The course is intended to meet the rising demand of new professionals at the interface between biotechnology and society, including within industry, bioethics committees, regulatory authorities, public engagement NGOs, etc.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Prerequisites for admission
At the beginning of the course, students are supposed to be interested in the social reality, its problems, prevailing values and standards, particularly with regards to emerging practices and the nexus of society, and the bio- and the digital technologies. Students should critically approach conceptual frames, and have the appropriate academic skills to write an essay, reason, abstract, discuss and communicate. No prior substantive knowledge is required for this course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written examination, composed of two parts: (i) preparation of a short essay on relevant topic of choice; (ii) written open question(s).
History of medicine
Course syllabus
The first part of the course provides an introduction to foundational tenets of the field of Science & Technology Studies (STS), as well as to a relevant subset of its main analytic frameworks, including co-production, sociotechnical imaginaries, bioconstitutionalism, the governance of biomedical innovation. In addition, the course focuses on exemplary case studies and socio-political controversies within the landscape of contemporary biotechnology, and its increasing convergence with the digital technologies. Topics include genome editing, digital health, pandemic-containment technologies
Teaching methods
Attendance to lectures is mandatory. Bibliographical references and course materials are provided to students, along with recommended books, throughout the course. The course is composed of frontal lectures, along with interactive sessions. The lectures are aimed at providing the foundational elements of STS as one of the main fields of research engaged in the societal appraisal of biotechnology, in order to endow students with key methodological resources to develop their critical inquiry of current intertwined developments in biotechnological and societal innovation. Besides providing the theoretical underpinnings of STS, the course will bring them to bear on the analysis of major controversies and case studies in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Teaching Resources
Nowotny H. and Testa G. 2011, Naked Genes. Reinventing the Human in the Molecular Age, MIT Press
Jasanoff, S. 2005 Designs on nature, Pinceton
Jasanoff, S. (Ed.) 2011, Reframing Rights. Bioconstitutionalism in the Genetic Age MIT Press
Jasanoff, S. 2005 Designs on nature, Pinceton
Jasanoff, S. (Ed.) 2011, Reframing Rights. Bioconstitutionalism in the Genetic Age MIT Press
Bio-medicine
Course syllabus
The second module of the course focuses on the analysis of key issues raised by the contemporary bioeconomy and the platformization of health research and care. Key notions such as 'biocapital', 'biovalue', 'clinical labour' will be introduced and analyzed, along with salient case studies related to the rise of the bioeconomy, platform capitalism, digital platforms in health research.
Teaching methods
Attendance to lectures is mandatory. Bibliographical references and course materials are provided to students, along with recommended books, throughout the course. The course is composed of frontal lectures, along with interactive sessions. The course will also provide an introduction to key approaches and issues in research ethics, and will focus on the most salient challenges raised by the contemporary
Teaching Resources
Cooper M and Waldby C 2014 Clinical Labor. Tissue Donors and Research Subjects in the Global Bioeconomy. Duke University Press
Van Dijck, J., Poell, T., & De Waal, M. (2018). The platform society: Public values in a connective world. Oxford University Press.
Pasquale, F. (2015). The black box society. Harvard University Press.
Srnicek N (2017) Platform Capitalism. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Van Dijck, J., Poell, T., & De Waal, M. (2018). The platform society: Public values in a connective world. Oxford University Press.
Pasquale, F. (2015). The black box society. Harvard University Press.
Srnicek N (2017) Platform Capitalism. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Bio-medicine
MED/02 - MEDICAL HISTORY - University credits: 5
Lessons: 35 hours
Professor:
Marelli Luca
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Marelli Luca
History of medicine
MED/02 - MEDICAL HISTORY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professors:
Marelli Luca, Testa Giuseppe
Shifts:
Professor(s)