University College London

This course explores the relationship between science and society in both a historical and contemporary context. Since the days of Christopher Columbus, right down to the Apollo Space program, and more recently the large Hadron collider at CERN, it has become clear that ambitious scientific endeavor requires public confidence, communication, and funding in order to get from the original idea to something which has an impact in society. These considerations are just as valid in biology and medicine as they are in the physical sciences. This course draws on the unique range of museums, learned societies and organizations based in London to enable students to experience and appreciate the relationship between science and society and the need for scientists to engage and communicate with the wider world.

This course looks at the history and archaeology of London, from its Roman foundation as Londinium in the 1st century AD, through its collapse and re-foundation as the new settlement of Lundenwic in c. AD 600, its relocation in c. AD900, and its subsequent dramatic development through to its destruction in the Great Fire of AD 1666. The majority of classes take the form of field trips in the London area. Students obtain a solid overview of the development of London from AD50-1700 and a familiarity with the layout of the historical city, its physical remains, monuments, and museum displays. Students are also encouraged to consider the ways in which such remains are uncovered and presented to the public. 

This course offers perspectives on corporate social responsibility both as a governing mechanism for businesses as well as a form of business practice. Students examine the theoretical paradigms surrounding the corporate objective, international movements in corporate social responsibility led by organizations such as the OECD and the UN, and delves into the role of corporations’ vis-à-vis social rights at both domestic and international levels. The course devotes a significant proportion of time to the role of corporations in human rights and furthering social welfare and discusses key critical perspectives on other social rights, including labor and the environment, where relevant. This course challenges students into viewing the role and responsibility of the corporation from perspectives beyond the traditional idea of profit making.

With increasing rates of urbanization and high population growth rates in the developing world there is a need for robust engineering solutions that address societal, economic and environmental issues through partnerships with local stakeholders and institutions. This course will provide engineers with an overview of the challenges and complexities of working internationally, focusing on low- and middle-income countries where mainstream development paradigms often fail to bridge the gap in basic infrastructure and housing needs.