Scholars and activists alike have illustrated the problems of ‘add and stir’ approaches to increasing the participation of women in science and engineering. The interdisciplinary lens of feminist science and technology studies (FSTS) can help us imagine alternatives that transform the disciplines of science and engineering into more just and equitable fields. This course will draw from FSTS to explore the proposed solution of bringing feminism into the practice of science and engineering. 

We will start by discussing the gendered, classed, and racialized differences in participation and status in both science and engineering, including cultural norms and issues of access within higher education and later career stages. We’ll then move from questions of women in science and engineering to the question of feminist science in practice. By designing and executing your own research project, you will have the opportunity to put these lessons into practice and to learn through the feminist research process.