The Experts below are selected from a list of 162 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Thomas Hillman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Stefan Böschen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Hybrid regimes of knowledge? Challenges for constructing scientific evidence in the context of the GMO-debate
    Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Stefan Böschen
    Abstract:

    Background, aim, and scope Over the last two decades, there has been a remarkable shift of attention to the scientific and political fundamentals of the precautionary principle. The application of this principle has become a main strategy of coping with the different forms and problems related to non-knowledge. Thus, societies are increasingly confronted with the challenging and hitherto unresolved problem of political and technological decision-making under conditions of diverging framings of non-knowledge. At present, there seems to be no generally accepted scientific or institutional approach. This is why the fundamental question of how different scientific actors define and construct evidence is not answered yet. Hence, this paper is based on the consideration that the conflicts in risk policy concerning genetically modified organisms (GMO) depend on the unresolved conflicts about the diverging scientific strategies and structures of evidence-making between the Epistemic Cultures involved. Thus, this study investigates two questions: (1) do the Epistemic strategies of evidence-making differ systematically with the scientific actors involved in the GMO-debate? (2) What consequences emerge considering institutionalized procedures of decision-making? Main features This article is based on a secondary analysis of findings and perspectives reported in the literature and on the methods of qualitative social empirical research, i.e., interviews with experts. A total number of 34 interviews were conducted to explore the different strategies of handling non-knowledge and constructing evidence. Actors from science, administration, business and NGOs were interviewed. In this way, typical Epistemic Cultures can be described. An Epistemic Culture is the constellation of methodological strategies, theoretical assumptions and practical-experimental settings which define in every speciality the ways how we know what we know. Results There are two main results. Firstly, it was worked out that the Epistemic Cultures involved in the GMO-debate use rather distinct strategies to define non-knowledge and to classify evidence. There are three types of constructing evidence, which correspond to different types of Epistemic Cultures. Secondly, the findings imply that the intensity of the conflicts in risk policy fields like the GMO-debate is due to a lack of knowledge politics. Usually, knowledge politics is restricted to the design of institutional procedures to compile knowledge provided by experts. The institutional setting of risk analysis and risk management is based on the premise of strict separation between knowledge and power. However, inadmissible mixing-up of knowledge and power is observable. Discussion It seems that non-knowledge leads to an Epistemic no man’s land, and, hence, hybrid regimes of knowledge emerge. These regimes are hybrid with respect to the unclear and not explicitly reflected strategies of evidence-making. By lacking of knowledge politics, this situation opens up ‘windows of opportunity’ for actors with special interests in risk policy fields like the GMO-debate. Therefore, there is a difference between the visible institutionalized structures of risk policies and the rather invisible hybrid regimes of knowledge. Structure and scope of expertise have to be reflected and new instruments of knowledge politics have to be designed. Conclusions Different Epistemic Cultures can be qualified by describing their particular strategies of evidence-making. To solve the conflicts between these strategies, a meta-expertise is needed. Besides the institutionalized settings of knowledge politics, the underlying hybrid regimes of knowledge have to be identified. Recommendations and perspectives The concept of Epistemic Cultures and their strategies of evidence-making should be investigated more explicitly with respect to other risk policy fields The analysis of hybrid regimes of knowledge should be deepened by looking at the complex interactions between institutional, discursive and practical rules affecting risk assessment.

Karin Knorr Cetina - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Culture in global knowledge societies knowledge Cultures and Epistemic Cultures
    Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 2007
    Co-Authors: Karin Knorr Cetina
    Abstract:

    AbstractThis paper explores the concepts of knowledge Culture and Epistemic Culture against the background of contemporary transformations in global society. Studies of knowledge Culture came to prominence in the 1970s, with the trend towards laboratory fieldwork and direct observation in the new sociology of science. If the focus in such early studies was on knowledge construction, the focus in an Epistemic Culture approach by contrast is on the construction of the machineries of knowledge construction, relocating Culture in the micropractices of laboratories and other bounded habitats of knowledge practice. Not all places of knowledge, however, are bounded spaces, and there is a case to be made for including in the empirical agenda more distributed locations. This is done here by introducing the concept of 'macro-Epistemics', to describe wider networks of knowledge generation such as what is often known as 'the global financial architecture'. The discussion concludes by moving out from macro-Epistemic c...

  • The Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Culture - Culture in global knowledge societies : knowledge Cultures and Epistemic Cultures
    Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 2007
    Co-Authors: Karin Knorr Cetina
    Abstract:

    AbstractThis paper explores the concepts of knowledge Culture and Epistemic Culture against the background of contemporary transformations in global society. Studies of knowledge Culture came to prominence in the 1970s, with the trend towards laboratory fieldwork and direct observation in the new sociology of science. If the focus in such early studies was on knowledge construction, the focus in an Epistemic Culture approach by contrast is on the construction of the machineries of knowledge construction, relocating Culture in the micropractices of laboratories and other bounded habitats of knowledge practice. Not all places of knowledge, however, are bounded spaces, and there is a case to be made for including in the empirical agenda more distributed locations. This is done here by introducing the concept of 'macro-Epistemics', to describe wider networks of knowledge generation such as what is often known as 'the global financial architecture'. The discussion concludes by moving out from macro-Epistemic c...

Yue Wah Chay - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Wissensbasierte Entwicklung in Singapur und Malaysia
    2009
    Co-Authors: Thomas Menkhoff, Solvay Gerke, Hans-dieter Evers, Yue Wah Chay
    Abstract:

    This paper addresses the question how knowledge is used to benefit the economic development of Singapore and Malaysia. Both countries have followed strict science policies to establish knowledge governance regimes for a knowledge-based economy. On the basis of empirical studies in both countries we show, how ethnic and religious diversity impact on the ability to develop an Epistemic Culture of knowledge sharing and ultimately an innovative knowledge-based economy.

  • Wissensbasierte Entwicklung in Singapur und Malaysia [Knowledge-based development in Singapore and Malaysia]
    2009
    Co-Authors: Thomas Menkhoff, Solvay Gerke, Hans-dieter Evers, Yue Wah Chay
    Abstract:

    This paper addresses the question how knowledge is used to benefit the economic development of Singapore and Malaysia. Both countries have followed strict science policies to establish knowledge governance regimes for a knowledge-based economy. On the basis of empirical studies in both countries we show, how ethnic and religious diversity impact on the ability to develop an Epistemic Culture of knowledge sharing and ultimately an innovative knowledge-based economy.

Dick Kasperowski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.