Role Of Science In Society Research Articles

THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE: PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE FICTION IN CLAIRE NORTH'S NOVEL "THE FIRST FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST"

As developed in this paper, science fiction shows us the distorted vision of the present with its anxieties about (mis)use of science although it deals mostly with the future and alternative realities. Thus SF stories both praise scientific progress and repulse its terrible applications caused by irresponsible abuse of technology. This paper focuses on how contemporary SF deals with philosophical issues of life, death, technology, and the role of science in society. It reviews Claire North's novel "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" in which SF conventions parallel and intensify the thriller narrative. The philosophies of Nietzsche and Heidegger have been employed to discuss the theory of eternal return and related topics of nihilism, devaluation of values, and purpose of existence. It is stated that the novel reveals how cognition of totality may lead to death and illustrates that human beings are incapable of achieving omniscience. Personal time is measured by memory and is always linear; therefore it can guarantee meaningful existence only when its arrow points towards growth and maturity. It is shown that ethical issues raised in the novel are based on the distinction between theoretical science signifying truth and its practical application meaning power. Knowledge by itself lies beyond morality; however, means used in its pursuit entail responsibility to others.

Expert Trespassing Testimony and the Ethics of Science Communication

Scientific expert testimony is crucial to public deliberation, but it is associated with many pitfalls. This article identifies one—namely, expert trespassing testimony—which may be characterized, crudely, as the phenomenon of experts testifying outside their domain of expertise. My agenda is to provide a more precise characterization of this phenomenon and consider its ramifications for the role of science in society. I argue that expert trespassing testimony is both epistemically problematic and morally problematic. Specifically, I will argue that scientific experts are subject to a particular obligation. Roughly, this is the obligation to qualify their assertions when speaking outside their domain of scientific expertise in certain contexts. Thus, I argue that scientists who possess expert knowledge are confronted with hard questions about when and how to testify and, therefore, that being a scientific expert comes with great responsibility. Consequently, I provide a concrete “expert guideline” according to which scientific experts, in certain contexts, face an obligation to qualify their assertions when speaking outside their domain of expertise. Furthermore, I consider a number of the conditions in which the guideline is waived or overridden. On this basis, I consider the broader aspects of the roles of scientific experts in a society with a high division of cognitive labor that calls for trust in scientific expert testimony.

Framing the challenge of climate change in Nature and Science editorials

Through their editorializing practices, leading international science journals such as Nature and Science interpret the changing roles of science in society and exert considerable influence on scientific priorities and practices. Here we examine nearly 500 editorials published in these two journals between 1966 and 2016 that deal with climate change, thereby constructing a lens through which to view the changing engagement of science and scientists with the issue. A systematic longitudinal frame analysis reveals broad similarities between Nature and Science in the waxing and waning of editorializing attention given to the topic, but, although both journals have diversified how they frame the challenges of climate change, they have done so in different ways. We attribute these differences to three influences: the different political and epistemic cultures into which they publish; their different institutional histories; and their different editors and editorial authorship practices. Editorials in multi-disciplinary journals can influence professional scientists and wider public discourse. This study compares how editorials on climate change in Nature and Science have changed over time and in response to wider political events

Science, ideology and daily life

Despite years of scientific effort to develop useful and safe biotech crops, ideologies have prevailed and genetically modified (GM-)crops have still not been fully accepted by today's society. This leads one to reflect on the role of Science in society, on what makes scientists credible, and how scientists themselves understand the world we live in. While Science remains a black box for many of the uninitiated, scientists themselves are also generally less-interested in sociology or the economy, such that the coevolution of science and daily life is often frustrated by incomprehension or even disinterest on both sides.

Telling the Bionarrative: a Museum of Environmental Ideas

This paper explores the history of a proposal for an ideas-based museum of ecological concepts, a ‘National Biological Centre' for Canberra in 1965, and its successors.2 The background to the proposal came from changing ideas about zoos in the 1960s, and the emerging discipline of human ecology. The mission of the centre was to explore the relations between humans, other life-forms and their physical environment through what its chief protagonist, Stephen Boyden, called a comprehensive ‘bionarrative'.3 The centre was to facilitate the understanding of biophysical and social worlds as interrelated dynamic systems. The Biological Centre was conceived as a ‘major cultural institution' for the nation, reflecting relations between science and society, and informing culture with science.4 Unlike traditional natural history museums and zoos, collections of objects (or animals) were not its primary mission. This paper considers how the 1965 proposal for the Biological Centre anticipated later ‘museums of ideas', and reviews its relevance to new twenty-first-century museums of the Anthropocene, and how museums and related institutions can shed light on the role of science in society.

Anarchist Epistemologies and the Separation of Science and State: The Critique and Relevance of Paul Feyerabend to Educational Foundations

This article synthesizes Paul Feyerabend's controversial contributions to 20th-century philosophy of science through the synthesis of his works and the secondary literature, with specific foci on current trends in educational foundations and the potentials and pitfalls for applying Feyerabendian logics to our work. First, I situate his strains of thought within 20th-century philosophy of science contributions from Popper, Lakatos, and Kuhn. Drawing on this explication, the second section pushes against the primary misconception/controversy regarding Feyerabend as a science-hater. In reality, his contributions promote a pluralistic methodology, termed by Feyerabend (1975) as “anarchist epistemologies,” whereby (a) knowledge seekers draw from scientific methodologies and other traditions to develop competing theories and (b) they adjudicate the best methods to move forward as they seek knowledge and/or solve problems. In the third section, I tease out Feyerabend's complicated relationship to anarchism, where, on the one hand, he himself denounced political anarchism and, on the other, Feyerabend committed to anarchism by using its theory to discuss knowledge production and the role of science in society. Finally, a concluding discussion makes more explicit the specific relevance of these arguments to trends in educational foundations.

What is science’s crisis really about?

Present day reasoning about difficulties in science reproducibility, science governance, and the use of science for policy could benefit from a philosophical and historical perspective. This would show that the present crisis was anticipated by some scholars of these disciplines, and that diagnoses were offered which are not yet mainstream among crisis-aware disciplines, from statistics to medicine, from bibliometrics to biology. Diagnoses in turn open the path to possible solutions. This discussion is urgent given the impact of the crises on public trust in institutions. We ask whether the present crisis may be seminal in terms of drawing attention to alternative visions for the role of Science in society, and its relevant institutional arrangements. We finish by offering a number of suggestions in this direction.

Should the science communication community play a role in political activism?

This letter reflects on how the role of science in society evolved in 2016. While there were plenty of groundbreaking scientific discoveries, the shifting political landscape cultivated a tempestuous relationship between science and society. We discuss these developments and the potential role of the science communication community in political activism.

On doing better science: From thrill of discovery to policy implications

In this position paper, I argue that the main purpose of research is to discover and report on phenomena in a truthful manner. Once uncovered, these phenomena can have important implications for society. The utility of research depends on whether it makes a contribution because it is original or can add to cumulative research efforts, is rigorously and reliably done, and is able to inform basic or applied research and later policy. However, five serious “diseases” stifle the production of useful research. These diseases include: significosis, an inordinate focus on statistically significant results; neophilia, an excessive appreciation for novelty; theorrhea, a mania for new theory; arigorium, a deficiency of rigor in theoretical and empirical work; and finally, disjunctivitis, a proclivity to produce large quantities of redundant, trivial, and incoherent works. I surmise that these diseases have caused immense harm to science and have cast doubt on the role of science in society. I discuss what publication gatekeepers should do to eradicate these diseases, to stimulate the undertaking of more useful and impactful research, and to provide the needed incentives to better align the interests of researchers with those of the greater good. Finally, I highlight where technical improvements are needed to enhance research quality, and call on deeper reflection, transparency, and honesty in how we do research.

Science Studies in Russia and in the West

In Russia, works on the philosophy of scientific knowledge formed the basis of science studies. In the West, the priority in the discussion regarding science studies was given to sociology. Over time, the problematic of the philosophical and sociological trends moved closer and the border between them shifted. As a result, understanding the role of science in society has changed substantially. Accordingly, there is a fundamental change both in the subject matter of epistemological investigations and in epistemological concepts.

Konference o společenské odpovědnosti vědy a vysokých škol

The new role of science in society was discussed at the COPERNICUS Alliance conference Sustainability Transformations of Science Systems, held in Vienna, on September 14–15th, 2016. These debates were intense as transformations of science systems will affect the roles and functioning of universities.

Challenges of science-society interactions in the frame of sustainable development: A case-study of contemporary Bulgaria

Effectively tackling problems of sustainable development such as climate change, poverty, and biodiversity loss requires a different perspective on the role of science in society. Building on the understanding that knowledge production processes shall go hand in hand with governance processes, sustainability science and ecological economics promote transdisciplinarity and participatory procedures as a key requirement for scientific work on nature-society interactions. Involving non-academic actors such as local lay persons, civil society representatives, businesses, and decision makers in the research process promises the discovery of practical solutions to related problems and empowerment of communities. While this novel research approach has been increasingly applied in Western societies, its adoption by scientific actors in the context of Central and Eastern Europe, however, remains relatively low. Employing Bulgaria as a case study, this investigation examined the inter-actions between academia and practice through a series of expert interviews and a review of policy documents, thus offering insights into the specific conditions of implementing science for sustainable development. It emerges that knowledge transfer and experience exchange in the field are needed. Promoting social learning in this domain requires clarification of the roles of actors and institutions for sustainable development. Finally, recommendations for science related policies and scientific work are given.

Alexander Numan (1780–1852) en de veredeling van de Nederlandse schapenrassen

Alexander Numan and the improvement of the Dutch sheep breeds Alexander Numan’s life and work provide a splendid illustration of the early nineteenth-century Dutch scientist’s view of the role of science and scientists in society. As a professor at the Utrecht veterinary school he spent a substantial part of his time on a practical endeavour: the improvement of the wool quality of the Dutch sheep breeds. He did not confine his activities to the scientific aspects only, but aimed to obtain the active involvement of all relevant stakeholders in his project: the government, the sheep farmers and the wool industry. In the literature, Numan’s project is seen as a failure: the stakeholders were skeptical about his project from the beginning, as wool improvement was seen as a misguided aim. The Dutch wool industry was perfectly satisfied with the quality of the Dutch wool, and the trend among sheep breeders was to improve their sheeps’ meat meat quality rather than their wool. Eventually, the government withdrew its indispensable support. Nevertheless, Numan clung doggedly to the aim he had set himself, and the question we want to answer is this paper is why. We argue that the answer is to be found in Numan’s view of the role of science in society. His motives were not merely economic, but, first and foremost, of a moral nature. Wool quality, for him, was a measure of the level of civilization a country had reached. Social and cultural progress went hand in hand with the availability of higher quality clothing, the raw materials for which the Dutch sheep were as yet unable to provide. By providing these materials Numan was convinced to contribute directly to the well-being and cultural enhancement of the Dutch population, an objective that was characteristic of the self-fashioned private and public persona of the early nineteenth-century Dutch scientist.

Europe’s rebirth begins with research

Scientists from different European countries have written an open letter to both national and international policy makers as well to all citizens across Europe. The open letter stresses that, despite marked heterogeneity in the situation of scientific research in their respective countries, there are strong similarities in the destructive policies on research and development being followed. This critical analysis, highlighted in Nature and simultaneously published in a number of newspapers across Europe, is a wake-up call to policy makers to correct their course, and to researchers and citizens to defend the essential role of science in society.

Rethinking the relationship between science and society: Has there been a shift in attitudes to Patient and Public Involvement and Public Engagement in Science in the United Kingdom?

BackgroundThe policy imperative to engage the public and patients in research can be seen as part of a wider shift in the research environment. This study addresses the question: Has there been a shift in attitudes to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) and Public Engagement in Science (PES) amongst researchers?MethodsAttitudes to PPI and PES within a cluster of three NIHR supported Biomedical Research Centres were explored through in‐depth interviews with 19 researchers.ResultsParticipants distinguished PPI (as an activity involving patients and carers in research projects and programmes) from PES (as an activity that aims to communicate research findings to the public, engage the public with broader issues of science policy or promote a greater understanding of the role of science in society). While participants demonstrated a range of attitudes to these practices, they shared a resistance to sharing power and control of the research process with the public and patients.ConclusionWhile researchers were prepared to engage with the public and patients and listed the advantages of engagement, the study revealed few differences in their underlying attitudes towards the role of society in science (and science in society) to those reported in previous studies. To the participants science remains the preserve of scientists, with patients and the public invited to ‘tinker at the edges’.

Commercialization and Public Good: Conflict, Complement, or Critical Component?

The controversy regarding the role of science in society – and how science can best achieve its role – may well date as far back as the beginnings of science itself. The specific arguments and the possible mechanisms for science to impact society, however, have changed over time. This article picks up the conversation with regards to the specific role of publicly funded science, presuming, similar to Brecht in this article's opening quotation, that publicly funded science has the goal of making positive contributions to society. To achieve this goal, today’s scientists and research managers face a myriad options of publication venues, protection mechanism, and collaborations with external partners including licensing and other options for commercialization. Oftentimes, the goal of achieving positive contributions to society is perceived as being in fundamental conflict with the restrictions many commercialization arrangements place on the use of knowledge. This article argues that, although commercialization may at times conflict with the goal of achieving positive contributions to society, it can also be complementary to pursuits towards societal contributions, or even a critical component in achieving the desired positive contributions to society. More specifically, it suggests that the use of the term “science for the public good” as description of the goal to achieve positive societal contributions might create confusion with the economic term “public good”. Thus, it seeks to reframe the discussion of how science can contribute to society in an era of increased openness and interaction. Andrea: Science knows only one commandment — contribute to science. […] Galileo: To what end are you working? Presumably for the principle that science’s sole aim must be to lighten the burden of human existence. If the scientists, brought to heel by selfinterested rulers, limit themselves to piling up knowledge for knowledge’s sake, then science can be crippled and our new machines will lead to nothing but new impositions.

The Role of Economics and Democracy in Institutional Change for Sustainability

Institutional change for sustainable development does not happen by itself. Individuals and organizations function as actors to influence development processes. Reference is made to a “political economic person” (PEP) guided by her/his “ideological orientation” and “political economic organization” (PEO), guided by its “mission”. Leaving present unsustainable trends behind is a matter of politics and ideology and even power positions, where democracy plays a crucial role. The perspectives of influential (and other) actors are essential in facilitating (or hindering) change. I will discuss ideas of the role of science in society, mainstream neoclassical economics in relation to institutional economics in the spirit of K. William Kapp and Gunnar Myrdal as well as neo-liberalism as ideology (where neoclassical economics has contributed to strengthen the legitimacy of neo-liberalism). Various aspects of inertia and flexibility in institutional change processes, such as path dependence, are discussed. Emphasis is on the role of economics and how a strengthened democracy can open the door for a degree of pluralism.

Relationship between scientific knowledge and fortune-telling

This study takes on a relational and situated perspective to understand the relationship between scientific knowledge and fortune-telling. Measures included socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of scientific facts and methods, and fortune-telling beliefs and practices. A sample of 1863 adults was drawn from a population of Taiwanese citizens using the method of probability proportional to size. The findings showed that knowledge of scientific methods was negatively associated with fortune-telling beliefs. However, knowledge of scientific facts was, by and large, positively associated with engagement in fortune-telling practices, a phenomenon known as cognitive polyphasia. This study does not imply that science communication or education have no effect on promoting scientific knowledge; rather, it hopes to encourage researchers and practitioners to use a culturally sensitive lens to rethink the role of science in society and its relationship with other forms of knowledge and belief.

Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science: PLACES Impact Assessment Case Study of Prague

Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science: PLACES* Impact Assessment Case Study of Prague Abstract: Regional aspects of science communication represent a potential asset and as such are quite suitable topic for further examination with respect to future social and economic development in Prague based on the city's main development strategies. Closer analysis of SCIP aspects at re- gional level can present a suitable complement for development of suitable measures and projects of the regional innovation and education policies. This study focuses on research questions related to regional dimension of science communication, its impacts and suitable tools. Document analysis and questionnaire distributed among selected experts were chosen as tools for elaboration of the study. Results suggest that regional dimension of science communication policy and initiatives (SCIP) is a relevant one in case of Prague. However, the attention given to this topic by national and regional authorities is unsatisfactory resulting in lack of co-ordination of activities of the respective stakeholders. Impacts of SCIP, as far as causality can be identified, lie in encouraging young people in their interest in science, increasing awareness of general public in science-related issues and explaining role of science in society and problems that science (as a sector) is facing. To maximise effects of science communication there is a space for national and regional authorities to play an integrating role. Given the concentration of SCIP actors, the City of Prague could aspire to develop its science communication policy in order to promote itself as a Central European centre of science. Keywords: science communication policy and initiatives; regional dimension of science communication; city of scientific culture * PLACES Project „Platform of Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science" is the four-year European project (2011-2014), financed from FP7, establishing and developing the concept of the European City of Scientific Culture. The overall goal of PLACES Project is to offer, to a wide and diverse community of actors, a common platform to structure their science communications activities, at a city/regional level.

The Role of Parents and Teachers in the Development of Scientific Talent: Lessons from Early Childhood and Adolescent Education of Nobel Laureates

This article presents some of the main results from the project about early childhood and adolescent education of Nobel laureates in science: the exceptional roles of parents and of teachers in developing scientific talent. Winning a Nobel Prize represents the pinnacle of accomplishment possible in one’s field of expertise. Despite the ever-increasing role of science in society and the importance of Nobel laureates in contemporary science, it should be acknowledged that their childhood and adolescent education has never been studied. The discovery of principles involved in the educational development of Nobel laureates will allow educators to accordingly improve, develop, modify and transcend areas in the current curriculum in an attempt to cultivate scientific talent, of Nobel calibre, in future generations.