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Brief Introduction to STS Studies in

China and Thinking About Some


Problems in Current STS Education
Chen Fan, Ma Huiduan
Research Center for Science, Technology and Society,
School of Humanities and Law,
Northeastern University,
Shenyang, P.R. China 110004
Content of the report

the Formation and Development of STS
studies in China
the Nature and Study Route of STS studies in
China
the content of STS studies in China
the characteristic and problem about STS
studies in China
thinking about problems in current STS
education in China.
Part I Brief Introduction to STS
Studies in China


the Formation and Development of
STS Studies in China


1. the 4 historical stages of STS studies in
China
1Early in 20 century the origination for STS studies
in China.
2Since 1940s and 1950s The STS studies in this
period of China, was in the guidance of Marxism
Philosophy.
3Since 1970s and 1980s:STS studies in china
flourished, but there was no independent STS
discipline.
4 Since the end of 20 century and the beginning of 21
century: STS studies spreading from both the
theoretical aspect and the realistic aspect, and geared
to international academia little by little.
2. The Emergence of STS study
organizations in China.

The organization of STS study in China has went through 2
stages:
before 1990s, the pre-institutionalized stage
after 1990s, the institutionalized stage

Stage 1: STS studies has emerged in China, but
it has not been institutionalized, the studies has
been developed within the academic circles of
China Society for Philosophy of Science and
Technology (CSPT). STS Association has not
been founded. But some semi-specialization
STS study institutes have been established.
Stage 2: institutionalized Stage--Special
organization of STS Study emerged,
special STS conferences have been held,
special STS books and paper have been
published.

1Special STS papers have been published.
2 Special STS Organization came into being
3) Special STS conferences have been held
in 1990, the 1st national STS conference was held in Xi An,
conference subject: New Scientific & Technological
Revolution and the Development of Era;
in 1992, the 2nd national STS conference was held in Wu Han,
conference subject: Market Economy and Technology
Progress;
in 1994, the 3rd national STS conference was held in Shen
Zhen, conference subject: the Social Conditions for the
Development of Science and Technology;
in 1995, the 4th national STS conference was held in Gui
Yang, conference subject: Science & Technology and Chinas
western expansion;
in 1996, the 5th national STS conference was held in Nan Jing,
conference subject: the Impact on the Growth Fashion of
Economy by the Progress of Science & Technology;
in 2007, the most recent national STS conference was held in
Shen Yang, by Northeastern University, conference subject:
STS and Globalization;
4) Special STS books have published

Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society, 1997,
explores the origin and study program of STS;
Modern Science and Thinking Mode(1990)
Mathematics and Culture(1990)
Life Science and Human Civilization(1994)
the Status Quo and Future of Chinese High-Technology(1995)
the Development of Modern Science, Technology and society in
China(1997).
High Science and Technology and Humanisim(2000);
the Revolution of Science and Technology and Modern
Siciety(2003);
Chen Fan, Zhang Ming guo, Analysis of Technology: the Mutual
Action between Technology, Society and Cultural, (2002);
the Theory and Practice of STS Education(1999);
Chen Fan: Introduction to Technological Socialization, 1995.
discussion about the Nature and
Study Route of STS in China

1STS--Science and Technology Studies

2STS--science, technology and society
1about the first kind of STS, that is, Science
and Technology Studies, we have different
views about its study

2about the term Science, Technology and
society, we also have different views about it
the Content of STS Study in China

1) Theoretical study of STS

2) Applied Study of STS
1. in theoretical study of STS, Chinese scholars
begin to focus on the following 5 subjects:
Scientism and STS
Humanism and STS
Theory of Technological Dominion and STS
Theory of Social Criticism and STS
Postmodernism and STS
2. in applied study of STS, Chinese scholars begin to
focus on the following subjects:
use the theoretical achievement to study social
problems. Mainly focus on three aspects:
science technology and public policy
science technology and environment, ecology, energy,
population, etc.
STS education
The character, Conclusion and Problems about STS studies in
China


1It is paid high attention by the government, and under the guidance
of Marxism Philosophy.
2the STS study in China pays more attention to Chinese National
Situation, much of the study is about applied STS study;
combines with social problems such as politics, economy, culture,
combines closely with school education.
3the STS study in China is still in the stage of exploration and
introduction, we are seeking the Euro-American study content and
paradigm; the theoretical study by ourselves is not enough.
4the STS study in China is mainly descriptive, but not Normative;
5the Institutionalization of STS study in China is not yet mature.
6STS community and educational departments lack qualified and
cultivated staff.
7the STS study in China have many controversy:
Part II Thinking about Problems in
Current STS Education in China

We have the following Problems:

1what should exactly be the purpose of STS education?
2What should exactly be the content of STS education?
3What should exactly be the levels of STS education?
1. what is exactly the purpose of STS
education?
The primary understanding of STS education should be
that, it is different from traditional education, can not limit
to specialization education and department instruction.
What should be paid attention to is: how to make
these purpose be standardized? How to realize these
purpose? It is worthy of considered by us.
about the purpose of STS education, should be oriented
on the purpose of educational practice which is based on
investigation and demonstration about social reality, or
just be oriented on the purpose of educational theory
which is based on general, universal permeation and
cultivation of STS knowledge or consciousness?
2. what is exactly the content of STS
education?
Some scholars argue that, what is important for
the content of STS education should be
enlarging or extending the knowledge system of
the students, and improving the knowledge
structure of students.
to produce students truly literate in science,
attempts to reform general education need to place
importance on the broader, social-cultural aspects of
science in the curriculum, and not just increasing
focus on science content itself.
3. What is exactly the level for STS
education?
According to many scholars, STS education
should be carried out from middle school to high
school then to university, even begin from
primary school.

How to impart or teach profound Scientific and
technological epistemology to students in middle
school even or primary school?
Conclusion

1compared with other disciplines want anything else can STS
do?
2What is the relationship between STS and other disciplines? STS
include them or parallel with them?
3Does STS has any its own core concepts or method which
making it different from other study field or disciplines? What is
the ideal content of the STS course?
4Is there any core literature which is well known by STS scholars
or students?
5What is the demand quantity about the STS teaching materials in
levels for undergraduate students? What is the demand
quantity about it in the level for graduate students?
6In all the education which includes scientific major and
technological major, should STS education be the essential part?
If it is, which grade will be proper for such education?

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