SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY IN A MULTICULTURAL WORLD THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF FACTS & ARTIFACTS BY DAVID J. HESS

David J. Hess Anthropologist Anthropologist Faculty development grant from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute Faculty development grant from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute “STS” – interdisciplinary study of science, technology and society “STS” – interdisciplinary study of science, technology and society

Combinations, Contrasts, and Complexities Generalist Generalist Wide in scope Wide in scope Cross-cutting Cross-cutting Dynamic and flexible Dynamic and flexible Culture Society Power Politics

What is Knowledge? “…finding patterns in observations and then organizing the observations into explanations..” “…finding patterns in observations and then organizing the observations into explanations..” negotiated constructed re-constructed Knowledge is a socially shaped process

Ways of knowing …. Philosophical and Historical Debate Philosophical and Historical Debate Is there an inherently structured world? or Are there similarities in the way the human mind organizes the world?

Things to think about …… Do different cultures have different sciences and technologies or is “science and technology” socially neutral and above and beyond culture? Do different cultures have different sciences and technologies or is “science and technology” socially neutral and above and beyond culture? In what ways is scientific knowledge “socially constructed” and in what ways is it not? How can this concept be made both useful and meaningful? In what ways is scientific knowledge “socially constructed” and in what ways is it not? How can this concept be made both useful and meaningful? Can you think of ways that the absence of historically excluded groups (e.g., women, underrepresented ethnic groups, the poor) shape the content of scientific knowledge? Can you think of ways that the absence of historically excluded groups (e.g., women, underrepresented ethnic groups, the poor) shape the content of scientific knowledge? Is there discrimination in science? If so, what should be done about it? Is there discrimination in science? If so, what should be done about it? In what ways can society influence the course of scientific research? In what ways can society influence the course of scientific research?

Definitions and Concepts Science: Science: knowledge about the natural world Technology : Technology : knowledge about how to create effects via artifacts Social Constructivism : made up of decisions, observations, generalizations, theories and methodology Social Constructivism : made up of decisions, observations, generalizations, theories and methodology Cultural Relativism : interpreting the meaning of science & technology relative to the understanding of local communities Cultural Relativism : interpreting the meaning of science & technology relative to the understanding of local communities Techno “totemism ”: identification of social groups with natural phenomena or cultural objects Techno “totemism ”: identification of social groups with natural phenomena or cultural objects

What does X mean to Y? What is the social significance of Science and/or Technology to: ClassRace Gender Nationality Context = possibilities for alternate theories

“International” Science? Aristo t le Copernicus Galileo NewtonNewton DARWIN EINSTEINEINSTEIN Pasteur Watson and Crick Mendel

Temporal Cultures Epistemes – assumptions about knowledge, method and theory that in any given time period are shared across disciplines (Foucault, 1986) Epistemes – assumptions about knowledge, method and theory that in any given time period are shared across disciplines (Foucault, 1986) Paradigms – scientific frameworks that can undergo dramatic shifts (Kuhn, 1970) Paradigms – scientific frameworks that can undergo dramatic shifts (Kuhn, 1970)

Scientific Revolution vs Scientific Evolution ’s ’s “Modern science” – is it historically ethnocentric? “Modern science” – is it historically ethnocentric? Philosophy Philosophy Religion Religion Capitalism Capitalism Colonialism Colonialism Counter-culturalism Counter-culturalism

How does science gain authority to direct truth practices? Actor-network theory Actor-network theory Institutional influence Institutional influence Public controversy Public controversy Religion Religion User Acceptance User Acceptance

The Scientific and Technical Communities Intercultural communication : Intercultural communication : Concepts of “self” Body language Conversation style Hierarchy/Equality relationships

“ Non-Western ” Knowledge Systems “New World” vs “Old World” societies “New World” vs “Old World” societies Indigenous people Indigenous people Boomerang effect/Pluralism and convergence Boomerang effect/Pluralism and convergence Accupuncture Accupuncture Ayurvedic Ayurvedic Reiki Reiki Shamanism Shamanism Tai-chi Tai-chi Yoga Yoga

The good, the bad and the ugly … Extraction – Settlement-Domination Extraction – Settlement-Domination Knowledge and Power Knowledge and Power Grassroots resistance and development Grassroots resistance and development

Earned Doctorates for U.S. Citizens in the Physical Sciences

Multicultural Education Recruitment and Retention of the underrepresented Curriculum reform Diversification of knowledge, design and practice

New Frontiers How are new technologies affecting fundamental cultural categories such as life, death, and kinship? (i.e. stem cell research, human genome project) Does the Internet promise to increase or decrease social inequalities, and how might changes in the technology reduce or exacerbate this effect?