course-details-portlet

RFEL3093

Episodes from the History of Science

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment

About

About the course

Course content

This course describes the ideas, culture and trends in social historical aspects within the development of the natural sciences particularly after the Enlightenment. Topics include the scientific revolution, the chemical revolution, the periodic system, electricity, theories of life and the evolution of life, radioactivity, and aspects of 19th and 20th century chemistry and physics. Interdisciplinary topics such as women in science and the history of Trondheim as a city of knowledge will be treated as well. Teaching methods include lectures, student led seminars and excursions. Guest lectures may be included.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student

  • has acquired knowledge of important aspects in the history of chemistry, physics and biology from the scientific revolution up until today
  • is able to view the history of chemistry, physics and biology in context and identify trends in 18th, 19th and 20th century history of science

Skills

The student

  • has experience in reading journal articles about the history of science, interpreting the texts and being critical of them
  • is able to present journal articles orally as well as in writing, discuss the contents and connect the texts to the rest of the syllabus
  • has acquired experience in writing a historical text

Compulsory assignments

  • Approved participation during seminars (including presentation)
  • 75 % attendance is required

Further on evaluation

The exam consists of an assignment and a presentation of the assignment. The grade given on the assignment may be adjusted after the presentation.

Course materials

Textbook, book chapters, journal articles as well as primary sources from the 16th through the 20th centuries. In order to include new trends in historiography, the syllabus will vary from year to year.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
RFEL8093 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
RFEL8094 7.5 sp Autumn 2012
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Biology
  • Pedagogical knowledge
  • Physics
  • Chemistry

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Teacher Education

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Assignment
Weighting 100/100 Date Release 2025-11-17
Submission 2025-11-24
Time Release 15:00
Submission 15:00
Exam system Inspera Assessment

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Assignment
Weighting 100/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment