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Centre for Studies in Science Policy > faculty  courses  students  activities

Profile of the Centre for Studies in Science Policy
School of Social Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi 

The Centre for Studies in Science Policy (CSSP) was initiated as one of the pioneering departments in the world, with the intention of evolving academic and policy relevant research and teaching concerning science, technology and society studies. Studies in Science Policy is an interdisciplinary field drawing upon a range of social, natural and engineering science disciplines to enhance our understanding of the interaction between science-technology-society. It concerns the impact of science and technology on society and vice versa. The primary focus of teaching and research at the Centre is on areas relating to sociology of science and technology; science and technology policy analyses including ; social history of science and technology; economics of technological change and innovation studies; technology assessment and forecasting; dynamics of technological evolution in industry; gender relations in science and technology; science and technology for development in the developing world; international relations in science and technology; intellectual property and studies relating to methodological research.

The Centre was established as early as 1970 as a pioneering effort in this interdisciplinary area of teaching and research in South Asia.  Centre launched a new direct Ph.D programme from 1999 and an new M.Phil/Ph.D programme from 2000 . 

The M.Phil programme in studies in science policy requires completion of 24 credits in four semesters. Students in the programme may proceed to pursue Ph.D programme after the completion of M.Phil course work with required grade or after the completion of both course work and the M.Phil dissertation.

The Centre also offers a direct Ph.D programme to scholars who have completed an M.Phil degree in one of the social or natural science disciplines or demonstrated their research capability by way of equivalent published work. The Centre strongly recommends to such direct Ph.D scholars to audit courses at the M.Phil level for two semesters while pursuing research.

The broad objectives of the Centre has been outlined as conducting teaching and research in the interdisciplinary field of Science, Technology and Society Studies. In particular, the department aims to foster research work on the science-technology-society interaction, by exploring how aspects of the political and economic environment influence, shape and in turn are determined by various  Science and Technology contexts. The CSSP has also concentrated its efforts towards exploring issues related to technological change and innovation in the realm of  public policy.

The specific research agendas of the Centre are outlined as:

• To enable students to acquire an interdisciplinary research approach.

• To undertake research in areas of S&T policy, which includes the evaluation of conceptual and methodological frameworks for S&T policy making, planning and management.

• To draw students from different disciplines such as the natural sciences, technology, engineering, medicine, economics, social sciences, law and management and foster interdisciplinary dialogues amongst them.

• Teaching and research on S&T to enhance national and regional capabilities for S&T studies and policy making.

• To undertake consultancy assignments on S&T policy-related issues including subjects such as R&D Management, Technological Innovation Promotion, Role of Intellectual Property Rights for clients in both the public and private sectors, including government agencies, enterprises and international organizations.

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