WI101700 Science and Technology in Society

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life (Master's Course)

Lecture Code WI101700 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 社会の中の科学技術

Subject Name
（Katakana）シャカイノナカノカガクギジュツ

Subject Name in
English Science and Technology in Society

Instructor SAWAI TSUTOMU,NOCHI REI,NAKAZAWA SATOSHI,IIZUKA RIE,OKAMOTO SHIMPEI

Instructor
(Katakana) サワイ　ツトム,ノウチ　レイ,ナカザワ　サトシ,イイヅカ　リエ,オカモト　シンペイ

Campus 　 Semester/Term 2nd-Year,  First Semester,  1Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1T) Fri11-12：Online

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Online (simultaneous interactive), Online (on-demand)

Lecture-based

Credits 1.0 Class Hours/Week 2 Language of Instruction B : Japanese／English

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 02 : Ethics

Eligible Students

Keywords Science and Technology, Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI)

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline The recent rapid advancements in the life sciences have introduced many innovative technologies with applications in agriculture, fisheries/livestock production, and medicine. While these advancements offer significant benefits, they also present complex challenges, serving as double-edged swords with the potential to drastically alter the future for better or worse. This course aims to explore the multifaceted impacts of life science technologies by examining their ethical, legal, and social implications from the perspectives of philosophy, ethics, history, and culture. Students will engage in critical thinking about the role of science and technology in society and learn to articulate their positions on these issues, regardless of their field of study.

Class Schedule lesson1: Life Science and Bioethics
Examination of genome editing's ethical issues and the state of national and international debates.
lesson2: Life Science and Research Ethics/Research Integrity
Examination of the code of conduct and social responsibilities of researchers, emphasizing research ethics and integrity.
lesson3: Life Sciences and Philosophy: Ethics of Enhancement
A discussion on the philosophical and ethical implications of human enhancement technologies.
lesson4: Life Sciences and Philosophy: Paternalism and Autonomy
An analysis of paternalism versus autonomy in medical decision-making, using preimplantation genetic diagnosis as a case study.
lesson5: Life Sciences and the Philosophy of Feminism: Reproductive Technologies and Beyond
An analysis of feminist implications in surrogacy and artificial wombs, using them as case studies.
lesson6: Pollution exports and carbon neutral pollutions
Export of pollution, Rare earth elements (or simply rare earths)
lesson7: History of Life Sciences and Food Ethics
The Social Controversy  regarding GMOs and its remining Challenges.
lesson8: Future of Life Sciences and Food Ethics
Ethical issues regarding human-pig chimeras or artificial meat.
lesson9
lesson10
lesson11
lesson12
lesson13
lesson14
lesson15

Grades will be based on the average of a short report for each class.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. n/a

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Microsoft Forms, Zoom

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Please read the handouts distributed in advance.

Requirements

Grading Method - Grades will be assigned based on the average score of 8 short reports.
- The short report should be approximately 500 words.
- Submit each report on the weekend of the lecture (before the end of Sunday).

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2025Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life (Master's Course)
Lecture Code	WI101700	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	社会の中の科学技術
Subject Name （Katakana）	シャカイノナカノカガクギジュツ
Subject Name in English	Science and Technology in Society
Instructor	SAWAI TSUTOMU,NOCHI REI,NAKAZAWA SATOSHI,IIZUKA RIE,OKAMOTO SHIMPEI
Instructor (Katakana)	サワイ　ツトム,ノウチ　レイ,ナカザワ　サトシ,イイヅカ　リエ,オカモト　シンペイ
Campus		Semester/Term	2nd-Year, First Semester, 1Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1T) Fri11-12：Online
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Online (simultaneous interactive), Online (on-demand)
Lecture-based
Credits	1.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	B : Japanese／English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	02 : Ethics
Eligible Students
Keywords	Science and Technology, Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI)
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	The recent rapid advancements in the life sciences have introduced many innovative technologies with applications in agriculture, fisheries/livestock production, and medicine. While these advancements offer significant benefits, they also present complex challenges, serving as double-edged swords with the potential to drastically alter the future for better or worse. This course aims to explore the multifaceted impacts of life science technologies by examining their ethical, legal, and social implications from the perspectives of philosophy, ethics, history, and culture. Students will engage in critical thinking about the role of science and technology in society and learn to articulate their positions on these issues, regardless of their field of study.
Class Schedule	lesson1: Life Science and Bioethics Examination of genome editing's ethical issues and the state of national and international debates. lesson2: Life Science and Research Ethics/Research Integrity Examination of the code of conduct and social responsibilities of researchers, emphasizing research ethics and integrity. lesson3: Life Sciences and Philosophy: Ethics of Enhancement A discussion on the philosophical and ethical implications of human enhancement technologies. lesson4: Life Sciences and Philosophy: Paternalism and Autonomy An analysis of paternalism versus autonomy in medical decision-making, using preimplantation genetic diagnosis as a case study. lesson5: Life Sciences and the Philosophy of Feminism: Reproductive Technologies and Beyond An analysis of feminist implications in surrogacy and artificial wombs, using them as case studies. lesson6: Pollution exports and carbon neutral pollutions Export of pollution, Rare earth elements (or simply rare earths) lesson7: History of Life Sciences and Food Ethics The Social Controversy regarding GMOs and its remining Challenges. lesson8: Future of Life Sciences and Food Ethics Ethical issues regarding human-pig chimeras or artificial meat. lesson9 lesson10 lesson11 lesson12 lesson13 lesson14 lesson15 Grades will be based on the average of a short report for each class.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	n/a
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Microsoft Forms, Zoom
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Please read the handouts distributed in advance.
Requirements
Grading Method	- Grades will be assigned based on the average score of 8 short reports. - The short report should be approximately 500 words. - Submit each report on the weekend of the lecture (before the end of Sunday).
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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