Science Studies
Academicians in the field of science studies want to know how scientific knowledge is produced. To answer this general question scholars may do historical case studies, they may observe contemporary scientists at work, they may examine the representations of scientific ideas in textbooks or scientific journals, they may wonder about the infrastructure of scientific institutions, and much, much more. This interdisciplinary field includes anthropologists, philosophers, historians, literary theorists, sociologists and some practicing scientists.
I became interested in science studies after I wrote Myths of Gender. Originally I had formulated my questions around the hunt for racism or sexism in science. But I encountered so many instances of good scientists doing what some would call "bad science" about race and gender that I began to wonder if there wasn't something more generic about the production of scientific knowledge that I needed to understand. Thus began my search to understand more broadly, how cultural setting--time and place--become part of the production of scientific knowledge. This led to my second book--Sexing the Body.
Many of the books listed under race, gender and science, also belong on this page under the heading of feminist science studies. For those who would like a broad introduction into the field of science studies I recommend the following books and web sites:
Books:
Biagioli, Mario, ed. (1999). The Science Studies Reader. Routledge.
Hess, David J. (1997) Science Studies : An Advanced Introduction. New York University Press.
Jasanoff,
Sheila et al., eds. (1995) Handbook of science and technology studies
Sage Publications.
Kohler, Robert E. (1994) Lords of the Fly: Drosophila genetics and the experimental Life. Chicago University Press.
Latour, Bruno (1988 ) Science in Action. Harvard University Press.
Websites:
Science Studies at Brown University
WWW Virtual Library for the History of Science, Technology &
Medicine (this
is the best single source for information on science studies).
4S-The Society for the Social Studies of Science (this is the major US Professional Society for Science Studies).
International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology (a group for scholars interested specifically in biology).
The Society for the History of Technology
World Wide Guide to Science Studies Programs