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Home Archive volume 08, 2009 issue 04, december 2009 Socialization of scientific and technological research: further comments Scientific mediation: on social processes, contexts and networks in which scientists are embedded
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Scientific mediation: on social processes, contexts and networks in which scientists are embedded

18/12/2009

Abstract

Science and Technology Studies have discussed extensively over the social factors that hinder and facilitate scientific-technological activities. Some authors even have attempted to grasp the cultural and power conflicts involved in the definition of concepts, paradigms and research programmes. I will present here a reflection on the concept of 'scientific mediation' which provides a complementary approach about the social networks that constrain, help and constitute scientific research activities. A definition of this concept and some empirical examples will be provided. Nonetheless, I want to emphasise the social processes and contexts that allow us to understand mediations as something else than mere communication and conflict resolution. Secondly, I will defend such an approach in order to support scientific research, but I think that the analysis of scientific mediation needs to be clearly separated from the ideal conceptions of knowledge-society and democratic-ethos. Socialisation of science, finally, is stressed in its meaning of collectively sharing useful knowledge for the improvement of social justice.

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Peer-to-peer science

The first articles belonging to a special issue on Peer-to-peer and user-led science will be available on-line starting from February 22. The complete issue will be published on March 22, including a commentary on the same topic.

Social network science: pedagogy, dialogue, deliberation Richard Watermeyer 09/03/2010
The public production and sharing of medical information. An Australian perspective Henry C.H. Ko 02/03/2010
Science blogs and public engagement with science: practices, challenges, and opportunities Inna Kouper 26/02/2010
Changing the meaning of peer-to-peer? Exploring online comment spaces as sites of negotiated expertise Marie-Claire Shanahan 22/02/2010
All articles…
Science blogs and public engagement with science: practices, challenges, and opportunities Inna Kouper 26/02/2010
Science comics as tools for science education and communication: a brief, exploratory study M. Tatalovic 18/11/2009
Changing the meaning of peer-to-peer? Exploring online comment spaces as sites of negotiated expertise Marie-Claire Shanahan 22/02/2010