Technology and Social Change (TEMAT)

Research and education at Tema T – Technology and Social Change deals with how technology is developed and used in social contexts, as well as how technological change help shape and is shaped by cultural, political and economic processes in society.

For example, we study the role of technology in daily life and in how we understand ourselves and the world. We also study how values and norms are expressed, enacted, negotiated, transformed and reinforced in different practices and contexts where technology is developed and used. 

Research at Tema T – Technology and Social Change is divided into three research programmes. P6: Bodies, Knowledge, Subjectivities researches topics of agency, care, embodiment, knowledge practices, normativities, and subjectivities in science, medicine and other technological practices. These topics are examined from social, cultural, philosophical, and ethical perspectives, contributing to feminist theory, medical humanities, and science, technology and society studies.

STRIPE gathers researchers with an interest in the political and environmental dimensions of infrastructures such as energy, transport and waste. 

ValueS researches valuation practices including rankings, metrics, pricing, impact, evaluation and so on, across a variety of fields in and beyond technology and scientific knowledge. The work is rooted in science and technology studies (STS) and both draws on and contributes to contemporary theoretical problems of agency, ontology, governance and materiality.

Education

In addition to our research and doctorate education, Tema T – Technology and Social Change offers an international master’s degree in cooperation with Tema M – Environmental Change. Tema T also offers a bachelor’s programme in Urban and Regional Planning, with a focus on sustainability issues, again in cooperation with other units such as Tema M. Our researchers also teach in various other bachelor’s and master’s programmes at Linköping University, across its four Faculties.


Research programmes 

PhD Education

Education

Our undergraduate teaching mainly includes urban and regional planning, various perspectives on technology and sustainability as well as theory of science and methodology. Main focus is on a contributing with a broadening perspective within the fields we teach in order to generate new perspectives on how technology is influencing society and vise-versa

Starting in the fall of 2017 our main teaching assignment is in the new Bachelor Program in Urban and Regional Planning. The program combines theoretical perspectives on planning with knowledge of planning practices, and particular focus is on different aspects of sustainability and how other challenges can be handled in the development of our society.

Tema T does also offer courses relating to urban and regional planning, with focus on city district development and visualization tools. We are running courses within the Teacher Program, focusing on theory of science and methodology, as well as courses in cooperation with CMTS in History of Technology for students at the technical faculty and in technical development in societal perspective for students within the logistics program. Tema T does also cooperate with Tema M regarding courses within the master program ”Science for Sustainable Development”.

Teachers from Team T are also involved in undergraduate teaching in all faculties at LIU, and are for example involved the bachelor program in Environmental Science, political science, anthropology, and sociology.

Publications

Latest publications

2023

News

Calendar

13 April 2023

 Nevin Cohen, The City University of New York. 

3.00 pm – 4.30 pm Temcas, Temahuset, Campus Valla

4 May 2023

 Niamh Morre-Cherry: Place-based approaches to sustainable and just urban and regional development

3.00 pm – 4.30 pm Temcas, Tema Building, Campus Valla

25 May 2023

Bernhard Truffer: Urban planning meets socio-technical transitions

3.00 pm – 4.30 pm Temcas, Tema Building, Campus Valla

26 May 2023

Public defence of doctoral thesis in Technology and Social Change:Alexandra Kapeller

10.15 am – 10.15 am Key1, Key House, Campus Valla

9 June 2023

Public defence of doctoral thesis in Technology and Social Change: Camilo Castillo Estupinan

1.00 pm – 3.00 pm Temcas, Temahuset, Campus Valla

Contact & staff

Staff

Staff

Visit us in Tema Building, Campus Valla

Postal adress
Linköping University, Department of Thematic Studies/Technology and Social Change, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden

About the Department