he Science and Technology Studies Institute (IEC for its initials in Spanish), founded in 1996, focuses on scientific research, postgraduate courses teaching, knowledge promotion within the specific fields, and consulting and technical assistance activities.

The IEC has two permanent research programs: “Sociohistorical Studies of Science and Technology” and “ History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.” It also develops other lines of research, such as “Scientific Culture and Public Perception of Science and Technology” and “Promotion and Use of ICT in Education.” In spite of its short existence as an institution, the work done at the IEC marks a tradition on scientific and technological studies with relation to society, which makes the IEC a point of reference within Latin America.

As far as postgraduate courses go, at the IEC, students can take the Master in Science, Technology and Society (CTS for its initials in Spanish) course, which trains them to analyze and manage social, political and economic processes related to scientific, technological and innovation activities.

This Institute also performs the important task of promoting CTS subjects of study, by means of publishing its REDES magazine (NETWORKS) through the UNQ Publishing House. This magazine is very well known within the Latin American academic community.

As part of its legitimate function, the University directs, based on specific requests, the research and teaching activities done at the IEC to focus on technical assistance jobs, especially for federal and state public bodies.

The IEC’s work is based on the conception that science and technology are closely related to society, both in their conditions and consequences. This approach understands that the creation and promotion of scientific and technological knowledge are validated within the social context in which they are created and which they somehow affect. This justifies the study of the complex relationships between science and technology and history, culture, politics, economic production and social processes that condition the production of knowledge and are affected by them. Understanding these relationships helps not only to understand science and technology dynamics, but also their direction and application
by the society.