Chair for Science Studies

At a time when the works of sciences and humanities inform and transform our everyday lives more than ever, the ability to equip ourselves to understand and to deal with scientific knowledge becomes increasingly indispensable.

Science Studies is concerned with the study of the sciences and humanities as phenomena. Just as history aims to investigate events of previous eras or biology examines the processes of life, science studies seeks to make the cognitive and material circumstances that characterize scientific knowledge transparent. One of its central aim is to develop critical instruments for evaluating scientific knowledge.

Questions of Science Studies are both simple and far-reaching: how do the sciences arrive at their findings? Where does scientific knowledge assert itself in our everyday lives? How is scientific knowledge constituted and what are its consequences?

Science Studies in Lucerne combines empirical, theoretical, and historical approaches in the investigation of individual scientific projects, of larger conceptual connections, or of the creation of new research objects and practices.

The Masters’ program is research-oriented and prepares students for the possibility of pursuing a doctoral degree in science studies, history of science or other related fields. It also prepares students to pursue careers that adress broader social, cultural and legal implications of science, technology and of knowledge institutions and industries, such as in the following fields: public and private research institutions, science administration, journalism, as well as – with appropriate other qualifications – careers at the intersection of science, law and finance.