The Women, Science,
and Technology (WST) minor is sponsored by three Georgia Tech
units: the schools of
Literature, Communication, & Culture (LCC),
History, Technology & Society
(HTS), and Public Policy.
The WST minor, Georgia Tech's first joint minor program, was
developed in 1995 by Steven Vallas, Anne Balsamo, and Carol
Colatrella. The WST minor program is the only women’s studies
curriculum focusing on the study of gender, science, and
technology. In 1996 the minor was awarded a grant from the Georgia
Tech Foundation, which provided funds for student research
partnerships with WST minor faculty. The WST minor was converted
from a quarter program to a semester program in 1997 by
co-coordinators Mary Frank Fox and Carol Colatrella. In 2005 the
program expanded to include coursework in modern languages,
economics, and international affairs.
The Women, Science, and Technology (WST) program does what no
other gender studies program does: it links science and technology
issues to those issues more traditionally associated with women's
studies. The WST minor prepares Tech students (women and men
majoring in engineering, science, social sciences, and humanities)
to live and work in an increasingly diverse world. The minor helps
students develop their understanding of the human side of science
and engineering involving not only gender issues, but inequalities
of race and class as well.
WST courses reflect on the theoretical and practical dimensions
of diversity. Students are encouraged to explore the values
associated with scientific culture and to learn to synthesize
knowledge across the disciplines, while viewing science and
engineering as social and cultural forces that shape relations
among women and men.
For more information
regarding the WST minor visit:
http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/colleges/cola/pubp/ugrad/wst.php.
Who
Minors in WST?
Students in science,
engineering, social science and the humanities--whether women
or men--who are interested in the connections among gender, science,
and technology.
Students who seek to
develop their understanding of the diverse human face of science
and engineering, involving not only gender issues, but race, class,
and national origins as well.
Students may register
and plan their course of study for the WST minor by meeting with
coordinator Dr.
Carol Colatrella or
Dr. Mary Frank Fox.
Why
WST?
Theory
WST encourages students to think about values associated
with scientific culture, to reflect upon the diverse human side
of science and technology, and to deal with social factors affecting
participation and performance in scientific and technical occupations
and institutions.
Practice
In a practical sense, the WST program prepares students
to understand factors such as current work and professional environments,
to become equipped to deal with them, and to assume leadership
roles toward improved participation among women and men in science
and technology. The implications of WST are significant for women
who will work in science and engineering; for men and women who
will work together in these fields; and for others who need and
want to learn about connections between gender, science, and technology.
Funding
The Program has been awarded a grant from the Georgia
Tech Foundation, which provides funds for student research partnerships
with WST faculty.
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Topics
and Issues
Sample topics
covered in WST Courses:
Women in the history of science and technology
Organizational influences affecting the participation of women
in scientific and technological careers
Gender issues in professions
Women and the organization and management of science and technology
The gendered impact of scientific and technological policy
Feminist perspectives on science and technology
Cultural analyses of gender, race, and class factors in the
practice of science and technology
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