The Place Of Utopia In Todays Science
0 likes247 views
This document summarizes a study on scientists' views of utopia in their work. It surveyed 388 scientists from different fields and continents. The study found the highest percentage of scientists with "no utopias" came from Europe, while Africa had the highest percentage with collective utopias related to knowledge. Individual utopias were more common in natural sciences. America had the most fully formed visions of science. Gender did not influence views of contemporary science. The study provided insight into how scientists currently view the relationship between science, knowledge, and communication.
The Place Of Utopia In Todays Science
- 1. The place of utopia in today’s science Filipa M. Ribeiro – Universidade de Aveiro filipa.ribeiro@gmail.com
- 2. Outline Relationship between science and utopia in today‟s R&D centres; The role of science communication; Description of today‟s scientists‟ utopias;
- 3. Main objectives To understand what utopias scientists have and relate them to key-indicators: science as a way of knowledge; science as a job; science in relation to communication. To understand the possible relations between scientists‟ utopias, the concept of knowledge and contemporary science communication.
- 4. Background Both science and utopia examine impossible possibilities that can, in the future, become feasible. Both are guided by ideals and antecipate the future. Utopia opens the way for new paradigms.
- 5. Background «how to know» vs the «know-how». Utopia focuses in knowing «how to be». Utopia may release science from its own fears, dogmas and prejudices. It isn‟t enough to know how it is, we must know «how it should be»
- 6. Background Utopia shows science that there are not only new paradigms emerging, but also parallel paradigms. Utopia is the motivation to reach new knowledge (through communication). Utopia challenges science, communication and overlaps ethics.
- 7. Methods May 2008 – October 2008; 1684 e-mails were sent to scientists from all over the world; Natural sciences: 1149 e-mails Social sciences: 535
- 8. Methods Data sample: 388 scientists; Random sampling method; The data about the participants were obtained through: Public Library of Science (Plos One, Plos Genetics, Plos Clinical Trials, Plos Medicine, Plos Computational Biology, Plos Biology, Plos Pathogens; the websites of the universities randomly chosen; a personal contact list.
- 9. Methods
- 10. Methods Variables: sex; age; geographical location; scientific field. Question: “What is your greatest utopia as a scientist/researcher?” The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS.
- 11. Methods 1.1) science as a type of knowledge; 1. collective utopias 1.2) science as a job; 1.3) utopias related to science communication. 2.1) science as a type of 2. individual utopias knowledge; 2.2) science as a job; 2.3) utopias related to science communication. 3. without utopias
- 12. Results Respondents: average age = 41.7 years; youngest individual: 24 years old; oldest individual = 70 years old. Shunting line standard = 8.4 Variance is almost 70.
- 13. Results “To have some answers to questions like: do we make the universe or is the universe that makes us?”; “To win the nobel prize”; “I would say 'reductionism, i.e., understanding macroscopic bahaviour from microscopic laws„”; “To discover an amazing technique or invention or product that would benefit the consumers worldwide and be a hit commercially worldwide”;
- 14. Results “That one day scientists will also have the same fame, fans, and finances as some other celebrities have; and that young and old people will look up to, admire and fantacise about scientists”; “God”; “To simulate life”; “The uncovering of new knowledge that is „worth‟ uncovering, and the sight of the face of a student when a new discovery is made in their hands.”;
- 15. Results Europe Africa America Distribution of the answers obtained compared to the ones that were sent.
- 16. Results Comparative synthesis CURK: Colective utopia related to knowledge among the different types of IUSJ: Individual utopias related to science as a job utopias within the groups of IUK: Individual utopias related to knowledge IUSC: Individual utopias related to Science communication natural and social sciences. NU: No utopias
- 17. Results Phylo Psycho Sociol. Econo Journal. Educat. Polit. Demog. Hist. Geog. CU Knowledge IU Knowledge IU JOB IU Comm No utopias Synthesis of the type of utopias mentioned in the social sciences group
- 18. Results Envir. Astro- Physics Che Eco- Biolo Medi P.H. Maths m Eng. nomy logy gy cine CU Knowledge IU Knowledge IU JOB IU Comm No utopias Synthesis of the type of utopias mentioned in the natural sciences group.
- 19. Results Distribution of utopias according to CURK: Colective utopia related to knowledge IUSJ: Individual utopias related to science as a job gender within the group of social IUK: Individual utopias related to knowledge sciences. IUSC: Individual utopias related to Science communication NU: No utopias
- 20. Results Penso que falta a legenda, ou título do gráf. Distribution of utopias by sex within the group of natural sciences.
- 21. Discussion There is a uniformity within the utopias mentioned by researchers from the natural and social sciences; Higher prevalence of researchers without utopias; There are new opportunities towards another concept of science which would be nearer the concept of post-human science;
- 22. Discussion There isn‟t an explicit and clear relationship between utopia, science and communication; Science communication is still an activity that is undervalued by the scientific community; Science is still seen as the use of capable rational skills and as a discovery method that postulates freely chosen concepts. e.g.: “I don't relate utopia to science. Science has very well defined and achievable purposes, so there's not much utopic about it” Scientist from Singapore
- 23. Summary It was obtained a very realistic environment, which is essential for communication studies; Europe is the Continent with the highest percentage of answers from the category of “no utopias” (34.9%) and Africa has the highest percentage of collective utopias related to knowledge (22.4%); Greater prevalence of individual utopias within the natural sciences, as well as with the utopias related to the job itself.
- 24. Summary America is where there are “more complete” visions about science; Gender does not influence views about contemporary science, despite the fact that female researchers express more worries about the impact of science in society;
- 25. I believe… …that utopia is the greatest challenge that mankind has to deal with… and… If you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak… William Shakespeare, Macbeth
- 26. Questions, comments, suggestions… Thank you for your attention! filipa.ribeiro@gmail.com