Singapore University of Social Sciences

CCO203 Sustainability, Technology and Society is an application platform upon which students shall apply their systems and critical thinking skills to actively engage in debate and discussions on the complex dynamic interactions of technology, society and environmental sustainability. The course curriculum aims to inculcate students with the following skill sets: a. Scientific Inquiry: Students shall embark on the history of technology to understand how technology is developed. Through this, students shall be able to understand some specific methods of inquiry by which technology has progressed. They will acquire knowledge in key technologies such as Energy, Water, Health, Computer and Nanotechnology, and also be made aware of technologies that make an impact on the biosphere and its resources. b. Complexity: With the acquired knowledge and through discussions, students will move beyond simplistic or silo-based concepts of technology and society. They will learn as a team to debate on issues that relate to technology, society and the environment. c. Critical Thinking: Equipped with the necessary skills from level 1, students will be able to actively and critically engage in discussions on the dynamic interactions of technology, society and sustainability, and their impact on Earth’s resources and Man’s survivability. Thus, students will be able to develop the analytical and evaluative skills in conceptualising their own independent judgment on the impact of technology on society and environment (and vice versa) in the context of the triple bottom line . The course covers a broad spectrum of technologies, viz., computer, health, nanotechnology, environment and renewable energy, as well as on the sustainability topic that relate to liveable city, green buildings, green environment and climate change. These key technologies generate related issues such as flash floods, environmental pollution, high oil price and escalating health care cost. Technology is not a panacea to all problems and thus, the course will consider catastrophic accidents in technology if the latter does not take into account systems considerations across different technology disciplines, or even society. Besides acquiring the systems concept of the dynamic relationship between technology and society, students will be able to grasp the balanced concept on business profitability pertaining to the triple bottom line.