Disrupting the Human. Science in Public Annual Conference

Latimer, J. E. (Participant)

Sociology

Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Conference participation

Description

Panel organised with Meritxell Ramirez-y-Olle

Period	12 Jul 2017
Event type	Conference
Location	United KingdomShow on map

Keywords

methodology
human-animal relations
intimacy
friendship
science and technology studies

Documents & Links

In many ways Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars are a part of ‘the public’ for life scientists, and life scientists are in a sense the STS scholars’ most immediate and direct ‘public’. We are each ‘Other’ to some extent to each others’ worlds, as at the same time we can in our interactions become each others’ audience in Goffman’s sense. Yet to understand each others’ world making to what extent must we engage with each other at an affective, even intimate level? This panel considers the human and nonhuman dimensions of the bonds that STS scholars establish with their research subjects. We analyse the characteristics of this bonding, including relations between STS scholars and humans (dead or alive) and non-humans (i.e. animals, documents, plants, instruments, microorganisms, matter). We interrogate the significance and affects of these primary associations for STS knowledge, and for the lives of those involved. The goal of this panel is to generate a better understanding of the social and political implications of the human relations generated by, and perhaps necessary, to contemporary and historical research about science and technology.