Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Study Details: MA 2 years full-time, 120 ECTS, Copenhagen, Aalborg
The master’s programme in Techno-Anthropology combines competence in carrying out anthropological studies of techno-science cultures with technological insight. You deal with collaboration between technical experts in different settings and other stakeholder groups, e.g. consultancy firms, R&D departments at multinational companies, advisory bodies, international organisations, public institutions, think tanks, NGOs, or universities. You work theoretically and empirically on how such collaborations can be turned into sustainable technological innovation and responsible decision-making regarding new technologies. You also use anthropological theory and methods to study how technology is used, and how it influences users.
In other words, Techno-Anthropology is for the person who wants to make a difference globally by contributing to the development of sustainable and ethical, new technologies by applying the theories and methods of anthropology, and who wants to study and influence the development, decision-making and uses of science and technology.
The programme presents students with theoretical accounts of knowledge production, user-driven innovation, expert cultures and social responsibility. It combines sustainable and responsible technological innovation with competence in carrying out anthropological studies of new technology as well as of the experts who develop cutting edge technology.
Students completing the MSc programme in Techno-Anthropology are able to analyse and understand expert technology cultures and to facilitate and promote this understanding outside of the expert culture.
The Master programme in Techno-Anthropology is offered in English only. First intake September 2012.
In order to apply, you are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Techno-Anthropology or another university Bachelor’s degree that includes at minimum 10 ECTS points philosophy of science or similar, which provides the candidate with understanding of technology or knowledge of qualitative methods. A Bachelor’s degree in areas such as natural science, engineering, computer science or within health studies such as biomedical laboratory science, nursing, midwifery, radiography, will normally get you enrolled.
Please make sure you send your application form and further documentation via post to the International Office by the required deadline.
Furthermore please note the official language requirements for international students applying to Aalborg University. You must complete and pass one of the following:
For further information regarding deadlines and requirements please see the website How to apply to Aalborg University.
Students from outside EU/EEA please see http://www.apply.aau.dk/how-to-apply-postgraduate/tuition-fee/
As a techno-anthropologist you can combine technological knowledge with cultural understanding. This enables you to address cross-disciplinary problems as described below. Candidates who possess such skills are in high demand, and they have numerous possible career paths – both in companies, NGOs and different authorities.
Techno-Anthropology is a two-year Master’s programme of 120 ECTS. Each semester consists of both courses and project work. You will follow courses approximately half of the time; in the remaining time you will do larger project work in a group.
During the first two semesters, you get an overview of different theoretical approaches to the Science/Technology – Culture/Policy/Society interface. You will get acquainted with STS (Science and Technology Studies), PNS (Post-normal Science), organization theory, as well as get insight into how ethical reflections can entangle concrete cultural settings (Corporate and Scientific Social Responsibility, Research-based Policy Advice, Value Sensitive Design, User-driven Innovation).
You will also gain insight into new technology fields such as Health-, Food-, Bio-, Energy- and Information Technologies. Hence, the first year of the Master’s programme combines applied anthropology and applied ethics with technological innovation and science-based policy advice.
During the second year of the programme, you will conduct a major fieldwork in an organisation that works with science and/or technology (i.e. a company, a political organisation, a consultancy firm, a governmental office, a university abroad). The fieldwork can focus on cultural analysis or be rooted in action research and aim at technological innovation or expert learning.
The last semester is devoted to writing your Master’s thesis. During this semester, you will analyse the empirical material gathered during your ethnographic fieldwork carried out during the third semester. The task is to work with an interdisciplinary problem through independent work. The groups are small – 1-3 persons.
See the programme details by semester at http://www.studyguide.aau.dk/programmes/postgraduate/53203/academic-content/
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