Specializations
Philosophy and History of Science and Technology
Philosophy: The list of GPHPST faculty includes a large group of specialists in ancient and modern philosophy, philosophy of knowledge, analytic and continental philosophy of science. This specialization is designed for international students who may want to take advantage of the opportunity to work with them during the second semester of their ESST studies.
History: The list of GPHPST faculty also includes a mix of senior and junior historians of science and technology, including specialists in the history of science and technology in local contexts. The specialization is especially appropriate for international students who want to work on topics related to the history of science and technology in the European periphery.
Information Technology: Historical to Policy Considerations
This specialization is designed for students interested in the history of information and associated technologies (computing, telecommunications, automation, emergent technologies: bio-nano technology) and/or historically informed information technology policies. The emphasis is placed on European contexts.
Sociality and Materiality at a National Level
This specialization focuses on studies of national European histories, engaging science and technology studies in a dialogue with broader historiographical theories of nationalism and historical sociology. STS ideas of social constructivism, ANT, reflexivity, boundary objects, trading zones and of intellectual appropriation of technology will be deployed in an attempt to bridge the gap from their inherently micro-level of description to the meso- and macro-level of history and political theory.
Science, Technology and Sustainability: North-South Comparisons
The specialization aims at providing an in-depth understanding of sustainability issues as they may be connected to specific technological and scientific artefacts and infrastructures. The emphasis will be placed on artefacts and technological-scientific networks of relevance to renewable and conventional energy, transportation, ICT, water management, infrastructures supporting natural conservation and biodiversity. Students will study and research how socio-technical changes interact with geopolitical variables, through a comparison of the experiences with technology and science in the European north and south. The specialization is designed so as to provide an elaborate understanding of the actors, concepts and policies involved in the definition and pursuit of sustainability, through exposure to comparisons of technological-scientific experiences that are shaped by contrasting natural and social environments. The specialization combines training in both theoretical perspectives and empirical cases from various countries.
