UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies

Jack Stilgoe was recently a member of an expert group advising the European Commission on approaches to responsible research and innovation. The report looks at options for how science policy can encourage greater responsibility for the direction and broad implications of scientific research and innovation. This report has been covered in this week's Research Europe http://www.researchprofessional.com/news/article/1313166/. In the story, Jack is quoted as saying that “RRI is a new term to describe a set of old concepts… RRI is about getting more from science and innovation, not just stopping certain things that we find troubling.”

STS Lecturer Simon Werrett spoke in Rome on March 15 on the relations of technology and religion in the early modern period, beginning (appropriately in light of recent events at the Vatican) with an exploration of fireworks staged for the election of a new Pope in Rome in the sixteenth century. The talk was part of a conference examining the role of stage machinery, spectacle and theatre in religious festivals and practices in early modern Europe.

Congratulations to STS BSc student Simon Dennis and the rest of the UCL University Challenge Team. Yesterday the team beat the University of Manchester in their second quarter final round draw to go through to semi finals.

STS Research Fellow, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (MBE) has been mentioned by UCL Provost in his 04 March 2013 newsletter:

Above average teaching

UCL Natural Sciences programme has released data from Term 1 teaching in modules taken by first year students. STS scores above average, largely due to the efforts of Dr Simon Lock and Dr Brendan Clarke. Well done.