The UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies is an academic department in University College London, London, England. It is part of UCL's Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The Department offers academic training at both undergraduate and graduate (MSc and MPhil/PhD) levels.
The department received its current name in 1994, renamed from the 'Department of History and Philosophy of Science' (originated in 1938), and previously 'the Department of History and Method of Science' (originated in 1921).
UCL was the first UK university to offer undergraduate degrees in this interdisciplinary subject, launching its BSc in History and Philosophy of Science in 1993. Two related BSc degrees followed shortly thereafter. At UCL, science and technology studies (abbreviated 'STS') includes the study of (1) history, philosophy and sociology of science, (2) science policy and governance, and (3) science communication, engagement, and evaluation.
Academic staff in the department in 2012–13 include: Dr Jon Agar, Dr Chiara Ambrosio, Dr Brian Balmer, Dr Karen Bultitude, Professor Joe Cain, Dr Brendan Clarke, Dr Andrew Gregory, Dr Phyllis Illari, Dr Inga Kroener, Dr Simon Jay Lock, Dr William MacLehose, Professor Steve Miller, Dr Jack Stilgoe, Dr Emma Tobin, and Dr Simon Werrett.
Other staff include: Professor Frank A. J. L. James (Visiting Professor in the History of Science), Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock OBE (Research Fellow), Dr Christine Aicardi (Research Fellow), and Dr Norma Morris (Research Fellow).
Emeritus staff include: Professor Hasok Chang, Professor Donald Gillies, Mr Nicholas Maxwell, Professor Arthur I. Miller, and Professor Piyo Rattansi.
Jon Agar is editor of the The British Journal for the History of Science.
Departmental offices are located in 22 Gordon Square, Bloomsbury, London.
Famous quotes containing the words department, science, technology and/or studies:
“The African race evidently are made to excel in that department which lies between the sensuousness and the intellectual—what we call the elegant arts. These require rich and abundant animal nature, such as they possess; and if ever they become highly civilised, they will excel in music, dancing and elocution.”
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896)
“There is a chasm between knowledge and ignorance which the arches of science can never span.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“One can prove or refute anything at all with words. Soon people will perfect language technology to such an extent that they’ll be proving with mathematical precision that twice two is seven.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“The conduct of a man, who studies philosophy in this careless manner, is more truly sceptical than that of any one, who feeling in himself an inclination to it, is yet so over-whelm’d with doubts and scruples, as totally to reject it. A true sceptic will be diffident of his philosophical doubts, as well as of his philosophical conviction; and will never refuse any innocent satisfaction, which offers itself, upon account of either of them.”
—David Hume (1711–1776)