Teacher in charge of the course: Madeleine Akrich

The “Description of controversies” course is aimed at third year students in the Civil Engineering programme at the École des Mines. Its aim is to introduce students to the uncertain world of scientific and technical research. The objective is to learn how to map subjects that are the subject of in-depth technical expertise and at the same time have become cases, often entangled ones, involving legal, moral, economic and social issues. This course thus develops qualitative investigative skills and provides students with an essential complement to the formalisation, modelling, analysis and calculation skills required elsewhere in the curriculum. Students carry out a case study. They work in groups on a pre-defined topic under the supervision of a tutor. With regard to the course objectives, it is important that students are asked not to take sides nor give their expert opinion, but to describe as accurately as possible the range of positions, the dynamics of the debates, the technical arguments exchanged, their translation by the various media, and the reasons for these developments.

For further information, visit the website “Description de Controverses” (in French).