The Novum is a site for the Science, Technology, and Society degree program at South Dakota School of Mines. The STS program offers both a major and a minor in STS as well as a minor in Creativity & Collaboration in STEM.
Novum means new thing. The term is often used in discussions of science fiction to refer to a new invention or social change that creates the world of the story. The speculation required to imagine new fictional worlds mirrors the creative thinking required to enact new futures in the real world. The STS degree prepares students to examine and analyze the ways the world is, to imagine what it could be, and to take action to effect change.
We look to our students to create the world they (and we) will live in, and a degree in STS is a way to both contribute to and understand this world as it unfolds.
Most Recent Posts
A Spark from Above: Investigating Environmental Conditions Associated with Lightning-Ignited Wildfires in the Black Hills
In this first in a series of posts by STS 401 students, Gavin Bird writes about his capstone research into the environmental conditions surrounding lightning-ignited wildifres in the Black Hills.
2026 STS Costume Contest Winners
Check out the winners of this year’s STS Costume Contest! We got some great entries and are looking forward to seeing more next year!
When the Room Becomes One: Conducting as a Technology of Collective Communication
What counts as a technology? In this piece, Dr. Gerrit Scheepers considers conducting – the act of leading a group of musicians – as a collaborative, collective technology.
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