About CSTV
The Centre for Society, Technology and Values (CSTV) was established in 1984 as an interdisciplinary teaching and research unit. CSTV explores interaction among areas such as human values, modern technology, culture and the structure of society. Since 1991, it has been connected with the Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering.
No matter where one looks, there is growing interest in the human context of science and technology. Courses in Society, Technology and Values are designed to help students come to grips with many of the major questions we face in a sophisticated technological society.
The Centre offers a six-course undergraduate Option which is open to students from all faculties. STV courses promote a critical awareness of the interactions of human values, modern technology and the structure of society. The STV Option gives students a high degree of freedom in relating fundamental STV questions, ideas and issues to their own areas of interest. One of our recent students has contributed a summary of his experiences with our courses.
The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) now requires that all Engineering undergraduates receive some instruction in the Impact of Technology on Society. Courses offered by the Centre for Society, Technology and Values are specifically designed to meet this requirement. The Centre is growing rapidly and now serves more than 600 undergraduate students from all faculties each year.
Society, Technology and Values is one of the University of Waterloo’s Interdisciplinary Programs.
