Conference Review

Scientific Values and Democratic Knowledge: Textures of the Social in Techniques of Assessment

24-24 October 2008

Summary Abstract 

The workshop brought together contributions from various social sciences to explore relations between science and democracy. The papers each addressed specific instances where questions of democratic forms of legitimation are raised in relation to technoscientific practices. These included examples of public engagement with science in the UK, transparency in Papua New Guinea, humanisation policies in Brazil, and research collaborations in Tanzania. In other cases, scientific method was itself understood as a means of achieving democratic order.

Collectively, the meeting questioned conceptions of ‘democracy’ by asking when and how they are already embedded in scientific practices? What different accommodations can be found between politics and knowledge production in different Euro-American and postcolonial contexts? And what alternative visions of relations between science and politics these varied experiences suggest? 

Event Report

Outline of intellectual content, key points raised: as for (a)
The meeting aimed to bring together twelve early-career scholars who were connected with the CRASSH supported reading group 'Rethinking Science and Society'. The intention was to use the meeting to work towards collective publication. To this end papers were pre-circulated and eight discussants were invited to comment.
Participants found the meeting very productive and work is currently underway to publish work presented at the meeting either as a collected volume of essays, or, more likely, in two journal special issues.