This interdisciplinary graduate seminar surveys the history, central theories, diverse research methodologies, and varied practices that make up the field of feminist science and technology studies(STS). In the first section of the course, Foundations, students explore the historical development of this rich, and dynamic field of inquiry, and are introduced to fundamental claims, critiques, and debates that characterize the field. In the second section, Feminist STS in Practice, we examine a particular scholar or lab currently engaged in research practices and knowledge production underwritten by feminist STS principles each week.

The seminar introduces graduate students to central problems, themes, concepts and methodologies in the history of science and neighboring fields. We explore past and recent developments including the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge, Actor-Network Theory, the study of practice and experimentation, the role of quantification, the concept of paradigms, gender, sexuality and the body, environmental history of science, the global history of science, and the role of labor and industry, amongst others.

This course takes alchemy as a starting point for exploring the history of medieval and early modern science and medicine. Alchemy's goals ranged from transmuting metals to prolonging life. They also invoke broader themes: religious belief, artisanal practice, secrecy, medical doctrine, experimental philosophy, visual culture. This Spring, the University Library is hosting an exhibition on alchemical imagery that seeks to combine these themes. We use this opportunity to investigate the historical approaches that inform modern presentations of art and science: from displaying artefacts, to reconstructing experiments in a modern laboratory.