Program overview
The history of science and technology is essentially the study of how science and technology have developed step by step, and how they have influenced society, culture, and the economy. You might wonder: Why did certain scientific discoveries happen in specific eras? How did ancient Chinese agricultural techniques spread across the world? What ideological shifts lie behind the modern technological revolution? These are the questions we explore. Core courses include History of Science, History of Technology, Philosophy of Science, Science, Technology and Society (STS), History of Sino-Foreign Scientific and Technological Exchange, and Scientific and Technological Documentation. Chinese universities have unique strengths in this field—for instance, institutions like the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Agricultural University have deep expertise in the history of agricultural technology and ancient technology (such as research on *Tiangong Kaiwu*), offering you access to primary sources and fieldwork. This program suits students who are interested in history, philosophy, and science. You don’t need advanced math or physics, but you should enjoy reading, thinking, and writing. If you have a cross-cultural background, studying the history of scientific and technological exchange between China and other countries will be especially fascinating.