School of Global Studies

Biotech, Life and Society (857L6)

Global Laboratories: Biotech, Life and Society

Module 857L6

Module details for 2021/22.

30 credits

FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)

Module Outline

This module explores how different societies deal with the dilemmas generated by global developments in the life sciences, including genomics, neurobiology and regenerative medicine. Concerns with bioeconomies, reproduction, euthanasia, eugenics, racial and ethnic identities, the environment, and human experimentation have yielded new theoretical perspectives and research methods, which are explored in this module. We examine ethnographic and socio-cultural views of life science governance and the political-economies that underpin their local and transnational developments. A social-science perspective, here, is crucial to a contextual understanding of bioethics, individual choice, social justice, public health, cultural identity, human rights, and life values.

Module learning outcomes

Show an advanced grasp of how different cultures conceptualize and experience the social, ethical and political issues related to the life sciences

Be able to apply major social-science approaches to and theories on the life sciences and society

Demonstrate critical understanding of the social and ethical issues of conducting life science research and applications

Be able to critically analyse and assess development in the life sciences and biotechnology from different theoretical points of view and perspectives

Be able to construct and present arguments about the life sciences, cultural and society in both written and verbal form, using theoretical and empirical data

TypeTimingWeighting
Essay (5000 words)Semester 2 Assessment Week 2 Tue 16:00100.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Spring SemesterSeminar3 hours11111111111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Miss Susan Chater

Assess convenor
/profiles/336740

Miss Camila Supervielle

Assess convenor
/profiles/535431

Mx Emilia Moscardini-Powers

Assess convenor
/profiles/214700

Dr James McMurray

Assess convenor
/profiles/244445

Prof Margaret Sleeboom-Faulkner

Convenor
/profiles/192052

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