Mapping controversies

Mapping controversies (MC) is an academic course taught in science studies,^[1] stemming from the writings of the French sociologist and philosopher Bruno Latour.^[2] MC focuses exclusively on the controversies surrounding scientific knowledge rather than the established scientific facts or outcomes. Thus, it helps sociologists, anthropologists and other social scientists get insights not into scientific knowledge per se, but rather into the process of gaining knowledge. Thus, MC sheds light on those intermediate stages corresponding to the actual research process and pinpoints the connections between scientific work and other types of activities.

History

The term "mapping controversies" was first suggested in relation to analysis of scientific and technological controversies,^[3] and then lately re-affirmed as a widely applicable methodological approach going beyond the boundaries of Science Studies.^[4] It is usually used for the methodology that identifies and tracks down the polemics or debate surrounding a scientific fact, and utilises various visualisation tools to present the problem in its complexity.

From January 2008 until December 2009, Latour coordinated the project "Mapping Controversies on Science for Politics (MACOSPOL)".^[5] The showcase website is mappingcontroversies.net ^[6]

In 2008-2009 several universities in Europe and USA started teaching "Mapping Controversies" courses for students in political sciences,^[7] engineering,^[8]^[9] and architecture.^[10]

An earlier attempt to stage controversies in museum settings took place at the Gallery of Research in Vienna in 2005.^[11]

References

^ Hess, DJ. Science Studies: An Advanced Introduction. NYU Press, 1997
^ "Mapping Controversies to interaction". web.mit.edu. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
^ Latour., B. Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers through Society, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 1987
^ Latour, B. Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005
^ MACOSPOL EU/FP7 Retrieved on 2019-12-14
^ www.mappingcontroversies.net Retrieved on 2009-12-21
^ Média Lab Sciences Po sciences-po.fr Retrieved on 2017-06-21
^ MIT web.mit.edu Retrieved on 2009-02-16
^ Ecoles Polytechniques Fédérales de Lausanne Archived 2012-07-12 at archive.today mappingcontroversies.epfl.ch Retrieved on 2009-02-16
^ University of Manchester Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine mappingcontroversies.co.uk Retrieved on 2009-02-16
^ Yaneva, A., Rabesandratana, T., Greiner, B. Staging Scientific Controversies: a Gallery Test on Science Museums’ Interactivity, Public Understanding of Science 2009, 18(1): 79-90.

[1] Hess, DJ. Science Studies: An Advanced Introduction. NYU Press, 1997

[2] "Mapping Controversies to interaction". web.mit.edu. Retrieved 2009-02-15.

[3] Latour., B. Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers through Society, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 1987

[4] Latour, B. Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005

[5] MACOSPOL EU/FP7 Retrieved on 2019-12-14

[6] www.mappingcontroversies.net Retrieved on 2009-12-21

[7] Média Lab Sciences Po sciences-po.fr Retrieved on 2017-06-21

[8] MIT web.mit.edu Retrieved on 2009-02-16

[9] Ecoles Polytechniques Fédérales de Lausanne Archived 2012-07-12 at archive.today mappingcontroversies.epfl.ch Retrieved on 2009-02-16

[10] University of Manchester Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine mappingcontroversies.co.uk Retrieved on 2009-02-16

[11] Yaneva, A., Rabesandratana, T., Greiner, B. Staging Scientific Controversies: a Gallery Test on Science Museums’ Interactivity, Public Understanding of Science 2009, 18(1): 79-90.

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v t Bruno Latour
Works	Laboratory Life (1979) The Pasteurization of France (1984) Science in Action (1987) We Have Never Been Modern (1991) Aramis, or the Love of Technology (1992) "The Berlin Key" (1993) Politics of Nature (1999)
Concepts	Actor–network theory Blackboxing Graphism thesis Mapping controversies Oligopticon Translation (sociology)

v t Science and technology studies
Economics	Economics of science Economics of scientific knowledge
History	History and philosophy of science History of science and technology History of technology
Philosophy	Anthropocene Antipositivism Empiricism Fuzzy logic Neo-Luddism Philosophy of science Philosophy of social science Philosophy of technology Positivism Postpositivism Religion and science Scientism Social constructivism Social epistemology Transhumanism
Sociology	Actor–network theory Social construction of technology shaping of technology Sociology of knowledge scientific Sociology of scientific ignorance Sociology of the history of science Sociotechnology Strong programme
Science studies	Antiscience Bibliometrics Boundary-work Consilience Criticism of science Demarcation problem Double hermeneutic Logology Mapping controversies Metascience Paradigm shift black swan events Pseudoscience Psychology of science Science citizen communication education normal Neo-colonial post-normal rhetoric wars Scientific community consensus controversy dissent enterprise literacy method misconduct priority skepticism Scientocracy Scientometrics Team science Traditional knowledge ecological Unity of science Women in science STEM
Technology studies	Co-production Cyborg anthropology Design studies Dematerialization Digital anthropology Digital media use and mental health Early adopter Engineering studies Financial technology Hype cycle Innovation diffusion disruptive linear model system user Leapfrogging Normalization process theory Media studies Reverse salient Skunkworks project Sociotechnical system Technical change Technocracy Technoscience feminist Technological change convergence determinism revolution transitions Technology and society criticism of dynamics theories of transfer Women in engineering
Policy	Academic freedom Digital divide Evidence-based policy Factor 10 Funding of science Horizon scanning Politicization of science Regulation of science Research ethics Right to science Science policy history of science of Technology assessment Technology policy Transition management
Portals Science History of science Technology Category Associations Journals Scholars

Mapping controversies

History

References

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