SpeciALIzATION IN STS - PowerPoint Presentation

1. SpeciALIzATION IN STS Spring 2015: Kristin.Asdal@tik.uio.NoSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN POLITICS AND SOCIETY

2. Three TEMATIC THEMES1. The Climate Society: Knowledge, Politics and Practices of Transformation2. The Good Economy: Values and Controversies in politics of the environment, politics of care and the life sciences3. Social Media, Digital STS, Market Research and The Public

3. 1. The Climate Society: Knowledge, Politics and Practices of TransformationThe public debate about the climate issue has changed character: The discussion now is not so much about if there is a human made climate problem. The discussion is more about how to enable the transformation to a climate friendly society. Science, the social sciences included, is expected to play a key role in this transformation process. In order to manage this transformation well, it is crucial that we understand the role of science and technology in society. But what kind of role does knowledge play? How does science take part in politics and bureaucratic practices? What happens when science become part of political practices? How is knowledge taken into account? What happens when different versions of expertise and knowledge encounter one another? What are the relations between science and the technologies and practices of politics and administration? Empirically this thematic theme will explore efforts at enabling a climate friendly society at key sites in society. Theoretically It will use the climate issue as a key case for exploring the role of science and technology in society.

4. 2. The GOOD ECONOMY: VaLUES and CONTROVERSIES IN THE BIOECONOMY, POLITICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND MEDICINEThe European economy is undergoing an i important experiment: A series of strategies, plans, and efforts are being put forward in order to realize a Bioeconomy; this is an economy that seeks to produce value from life and the living in new and innovative ways. The Bioeconomy is closely integrated with the vision that this economy also will have other virtues: That it will solve environmental problems, produce welfare, be responsible, and take care so that the European economy acts within limits. This integrated complex is what this thematic theme names “the good economy”. This thematic theme will explore key aspects of the bioeconomy and its problems and challenges. But the notion “the good economy” will also be employed as an analytical resource more broadly: How to realize an economy that does not only produce economic growth but which is environmental friendly, provides care and good health, for humans as well as non-humans? How to realize such an integrated complex, a “good” economy” – in practice? What are the relations between the economy, politics of health and care, and the life sciences? What are the tools, devices or technologies of politics that are involved and take part in such efforts? The notion “the good economy” does not imply that the economy is good. It points to that values and practices of valuations must be included in studies of the economy. The aim is to explore how different visions and versions of “the good” interact, produce tensions and sometimes conflicts. Empirically the theme will address key sites and issues relevant to the good economy, for instance animal welfare, the aquaculture industry, elderly and end of life care - in everyday practices, policy visions and innovation strategies. Theoretically it will address key theoretical resources in STS such as care studies, valuation studies, and studies of the bioeconomy.  

5. Social Media, DIGITAL STS, Market Research and The Public New social media and «the digital» have become core to everyday interactions, for the shaping of individual identities and for the making of new forms of the social and the public. But they are also increasingly becoming core sites for tracking behavior, for gathering data and for the making of markets. Which versions of the ‘the social’ and ‘the public’ are enacted by way of new social media and ‘the digital’? How can we understand new social media compared to other versions of publics and the social? How do publics and public opinion take part in shaping social and political issues? How are participation co-produced with market devices, objects and technological devices? Science and Technology Studies (STS) has always been concerned with how science and technology take part in producing the social. The objective of this theme is to explore this topic further in relation to the digital and new social media. This theme will also explore how technologies take part in producing both issues and new publics. STS research will be drawn together with media studies and market research.

6. TIK PrOJECTS TO WHICH THE THEMES ARE ATTACHEDIPCC Assessment Reports 5 in Europe, with Cicero, Center for International Climate and Environmental ResearchThe Good Economy: Biocapitalization and the little tools of valuationThe Aquagenome project http://www.aquagenome.uio.no/When authorities meet, with (among others) John Law and Ingunn MoserCare at a distance, with DiakonhjemmetThe Oslo-Berkeley initiative on valuation studies.