Institute for Technoscience & Society
Our aim is to build a global hub of critical and interdisciplinary research and knowledge mobilization on the relationship between technoscience and society, especially the configuration of social power underpinning scientific claims, medical practices, emerging technologies, and sites of innovation. York has one of the largest concentrations of and internationally renowned experts working on these important societal issues and the ITS aims to support these researchers as they promote socially responsible and inclusive technoscience.
Vision
Our vision for the ITS is:
- To create a hub of critical and interdisciplinary research and knowledge mobilization on the relationship between technoscience and society;
- To support researchers at York in their publishing, grant applications, and knowledge mobilization;
- To build a Canadian network of researchers who do research on technoscience and society;
- To connect ITS researchers with international research centres and institutes around the world.
History & Mission
At ITS, we're building on a long tradition of excellent research at York on the relationship between technoscience and society. York was a key node in the SSHRC Strategic Knowledge Cluster (2007-2014) on Situating Science: Science in Human Contexts. York also has the only Department of Science, Technology & Society and the largest Graduate Program in Science & Technology Studies in Canada. The research on the relationship between technoscience and society goes far beyond these units with ITS including researchers from all of York's Faculties and campuses.
We are an Associated Research Unit of the new Connected Minds: Neural and Machine Systems for a Healthy, Just Society initiative. Connected Minds is a $105.6 million, seven-year interdisciplinary research initiative led by York University and funded by the federal government through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) program.