Thirsty for a nerdy discussion of science, technology, ethics, and popular fiction? Dr. Jennifer Terrell and Iris Bull (Ph.D. student) talk each week about their ongoing college course designed and organized around these topics. We start by asking, “What is the role of popular culture texts in the construction of sociotechnical ethics?” We then spend 15 weeks answering that question together using frameworks unique to the field of science and technology studies, conceived of by historians, sociologists, policy analysts, HCI designers, philosophers, and literary theorists. Our investigation formally begins with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, but quickly jumps forward in time to engage with contemporary fictional and non-fictional media including, but not limited to, Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti series, Star Trek: Discovery, and Daniel Clark’s 2018 documentary, Behind the Curve. The discussion is conversational and minimally edited, with occasional guest participants.
