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Science and Technology Studies Unit

Research at the intersections of science, technology and society.

In the Science and Technology Studies Unit (SATSU), we are interested in better understanding how people develop and use scientific knowledge and technological systems and artefacts, and start from the view that science and technologies are embedded in the societies and cultures in which they are made, used, and debated. We ask: 

  • How does science and technology shape the world we live in? 
  • How do cultural and political values and economic interests drive transformations in science and technology?  
  • How can people come together to critique and contribute to making a more equitable world that enhances diverse voices in science and technology? 
  • And how can we use creative approaches to bring about more just scientific, technological and social futures?

Established in 1988

Our research areas

At SATSU, our research interests span four substantive areas of contemporary science and technology and we have developed some distinctive conceptual and methodological approaches that you can read more about below.

Andrew J Webster Annual Lecture

Professor Andrew Webster (1951-2021)  founded SATSU in 1988 and served as director until his retirement in 2017. In 2022, we established the Andrew J Webster Annual Lecture on Science, Technology and Society in his honour of his numerous contributions to the field.

Find out more about the 2023 Andrew J Webster Annual Lecture