Techno-Anthropology

The masters programme in Techno-Anthropology combines competence in carrying out anthropological studies of techno-science cultures with technological insight. You deal with collaboration between technical experts in different settings and other stakeholder groups, e.g. consultancy firms, R&D departments at multinational companies, advisory bodies, international organisations, public institutions, think tanks, NGOs, or universities. You work theoretically and empirically on how such collaborations can be turned into sustainable technological innovation and responsible decision-making regarding new technologies. You also use anthropological theory and methods to study how technology is used, and how it influences users.

In other words, Techno-Anthropology is for the person who wants to make a difference globally by contributing to the development of sustainable and ethical, new technologies by applying the theories and methods of anthropology, and who wants to study and influence the development, decision-making and uses of science and technology.

The programme presents students with theoretical accounts of knowledge production, user-driven innovation, expert cultures and social responsibility. It combines sustainable and responsible technological innovation with competence in carrying out anthropological studies of new technology as well as of the experts who develop cutting edge technology.

Students completing the MSc programme in Techno-Anthropology are able to analyse and understand expert technology cultures and to facilitate and promote this understanding outside of the expert culture.

Techno-Anthropology is a two-year Masters programme of 120 ECTS. Each semester consists of both courses and project work. You will follow courses approximately half of the time; in the remaining time you will do larger project work in a group.

During the first two semesters, you get an overview of different theoretical approaches to the Science/Technology - Culture/Policy/Society interface. You will get acquainted with STS (Science and Technology Studies), PNS (Post-normal Science), organization theory, and gain insight into how ethical reflections can entangle concrete cultural settings (Corporate and Scientific Social Responsibility, Research-based Policy Advice, Value Sensitive Design, User-driven Innovation).

You will also gain insight into new technology fields such as Health-, Food-, Bio-, Energy- and Information Technologies. Hence, the first year of the Masters programme combines applied anthropology and applied ethics with technological innovation and science-based policy advice.

During the second year of the programme, you will conduct a major fieldwork in an organisation that works with science and/or technology (i.e. a company, a political organisation, a consultancy firm, a governmental office, a university abroad). The fieldwork can focus on cultural analysis or be rooted in action research and aim at technological innovation or expert learning.

The last semester is devoted to writing your Masters Thesis. During this semester, you will analyse the empirical material gathered during your ethnographic fieldwork carried out during the third semester. The task is to work with an interdisciplinary problem through independent work. The groups are small 1-3 persons.

1st Semester

Project

Expert Cultures and Sustainable Technology

Courses

• Organisational Culture: Expertise, Responsibility and Innovation
• Sustainable and Innovation Knowledge Production
• One elective course.

2nd Semester

Project

The Anthropology of the Product

Courses

• Product Development: Value sensitive design, User-driven innovation, Technology-based service or Research-based Counselling
• Theories of Techno-Science
• One elective course.

3rd Semester

Third semester is devoted to a fieldwork in an organisation that works with science and technology (i.e. a company, a political organisation, a consultancy firm, a governmental office, a university abroad, etc.).

4th Semester

Master's Thesis

Traineeship / study abroad

The entire programme is organised in close collaboration with the outside world in the form of project work, cases, fieldwork, guest lecturers from abroad, and visits at and from companies and organisations. During the Masters programme, you will accomplish one semester by studying in a company, an organization, or at another university. A stay abroad or work within an organisation or a company is an integral part of the programme.

In order to apply, you are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Techno-Anthropology or another university Bachelor’s degree that includes at minimum 10 ECTS points philosophy of science or similar, which provides the candidate with understanding of technology or knowledge of qualitative methods. A Bachelor’s degree in areas such as natural science, engineering, computer science or within health studies such as biomedical laboratory science, nursing, midwifery, radiography, will normally get you enrolled. As will a Bachelor'e degree in anthropology, sociology, pedagogy and psychology.Please make sure you send your application form and further documentation via post to the International Office by the required deadline. Furthermore please note the official language requirements for international students applying to Aalborg University. You must complete and pass one of the following:IELTS (academic test): 6.5TOEFL (paper-based): 550TOEFL (computer-based): 230TOEFL (internet-based): 80Cambridge ESOL: C1 English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 80