Wed. October 24 - Sheila Jasanoff: Science, Technology, and Society: An Emerging Field at Harvard and Beyond
The Center for Research on Computation and Society continues its weekly lunch seminar:
CRCS Privacy and Security Lunch Seminar
Date: Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm (Lunch Provided)
Place: Maxwell Dworkin119
Speaker: Sheila Jasanoff, Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies
Topic: “Science, Technology, and Society: An Emerging Field at Harvard and Beyond”
Abstract:
STS has emerged out of two broad streams of concern that grew during the
20th century. One is the concern of scientists, policymakers, and the
public with the impacts and control of science and technology, with
particular focus on the risks that S&T pose to peace, security, democracy,
social stability, environmental sustainability, and other human values. The
other is the concern of academic researchers with the nature and practices
of S&T as social activities possessing distinctive goals, structures, and
languages that change over time and vary across cultures. Jasanoff will
discuss how these sets of concerns are represented at Harvard and elsewhere,
and what this implies for the training and careers of future scientists and
engineers. Her talk is based on her extensive experiences as a leading
analyst of the politics of science, frequent participant in policy debates,
and founder-chair of the only Ivy League department of STS (at Cornell).
She will also speak about the STS Program at the Kennedy School and how it
is seeking to bridge two, and more, cultures at Harvard.