The Colby STS Program was initiated by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation under their "New Liberal Arts Program" in 1988. The Grant initially funded one STS professor/director, course development grants, and the Colby STS Speakers' Series. After three years the college assumed full financial responsibility for the Program, making us one of the only liberal arts colleges with its own dedicated program in STS. As a result, the STS Program at Colby has subsequently served as a model for the development of STS at other colleges and universities.
Originally the program offered only a seven-course minor, and was known colloquially as "the minor for all majors", but since the 2003-2004 academic year it has been possible for students to major in STS an option that is becoming increasingly popular year on year. STS is integrated into the structure of both the Interdisciplinary Studies Division and the Natural Science Division at Colby, and we offer a broad range of courses that meet a number of college requirements. Through collaborative teaching, our seminar series, and resource sharing, our program also provides STS perspectives to other interdisciplinary programs, such as Women's Studies, American Studies, and Environmental Studies, to name but three. We also offer courses in ethics for those intending to pursue a career in the natural sciences and medicine. STS is a relatively small program that fosters intellectual discussion of the issues surrounding STS between faculty and students, and to this end also organize a number of popular social events. We look forward to hearing from students and faculty with an interest in the relationships between science, technology, and society.
