Locating Technoscience: Geographies of Science, Technology and politics
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Geography
Abstract
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Organisations
| Description | The seminars were an excellent forum through which to build the ideas and identity of this group of researchers working at the boundaries between Geography, STS and other disciplines. The participant profile indicates the involvement of the target research communities, and positive feedback reflects the quality of intellectual exchange facilitated by the meetings. The main aim of the seminar series was capacity building and intellectual exchange. It has supported the development of subsequent seminar series and teaching innovation. The emerging research community has been strengthened through the on-line resources via the seminar website and the on-line 'Locating Technoscience' reader. Intellectually, the seminar series defined the geographies of technoscience as a coherent set of questions and concern. |
| Exploitation Route | This was primarily a networking event focused on intellectual exchange. However, it has formed the basis for long-term collaborations with non-academic partners, including via the Arts Catalyst in London and the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) at Cambridge. The participation of practitioners in science, policy and the arts was encouraged through invitations to speak at specialist policy-relevant seminars. Many of these practitioners then attended further events. |
| Sectors | Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/locating-technoscience/ |
| Description | The activities known to have emerged from the Locating Technoscience seminar series can be divided into five areas. • Forthcoming publications: Two publishing initiatives emerge directly from the series: an Area special section on the 'Secret Spaces of Science and Technology' and the on-line 'Locating Technoscience' reader. The informal contribution of the seminar series has been acknowledged in papers and presentations . • Further seminar activities: Balmer, Rappert, Barry have applied to the ESRC for a further seminar series on secrecy in science. Doubleday and Kearns are proposing 3 sessions on 'States of Knowledge' at the 2008 RGS/IBG annual conference. Davies and Lorimer are organizing 4 sessions at RGS/IBG 2008 applying insights from the series to emerging biogeographies. Greenhough is organizing a session on 'bodies across borders' for AAG 2008, including participants from the third seminar. The seminar series has also led to invitations to present research in other departments, something especially valuable for younger researchers. • Supporting teaching innovation: Balmer has included teaching on the Geography of Science on the new MSc option in sociology of science at London Centre for History of Science, Medicine and Technology. Doubleday and Bravo are strengthening teaching around the Geographers of Science in Cambridge. Davies is currently on an ESRC research fellowship but will be introducing a new third year module in the geography degree at UCL when she returns in 2010, supported by the on-line reader on Locating Technoscience. The production of this resource has already facilitated discussion around teaching innovation and will support the continued vibrancy of this area of social science. • Developing networks: Informal feedback suggests many have successfully used the seminars to expand their personal networks. More formally, Doubleday and Kearns are developing proposals for a geography/STS network based around an annual event and a website for working papers and developing collaborative research. • Establishing a field: Finally, there is the suggestion the seminar series has exceeded its aims in buildings a dialogue between disciplines to help identify a new field of enquiry. As one senior UK academic states, 'the bigger contribution of the series is I think you really established this as a field with a coherent set of questions and concerns. It definitely wasn't just a group of geographers interested in STS but the bringing into existence of a geography of technoscience (which has a lot to say to both STS and geography). I hadn't thought of it before your series, but actually I think that's quite important and using the series as a basis for a reader would be great in consolidating the work you've done in quite simply establishing a field.' |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |