Re_ week 5 summary.rtfd

!This is a summary of
WEEK 5
culture of science
Readings:
1. “The Scientific Method” pp 2-5 ; “The Shoulders of Giants” Ch. 4 by Dara Horn;! “The Power and the Pleasure ... “ Ch. 12 by Wendy Faulkner in
Women, Science and Technology, M. Wyer et al., eds (Textbook)
2. ! “Arrogance - A dangerous weapon of the Physics Trade?”! J. Murray Gibson (Electronic)
3.! “Law and Order, Sexy Machines, and the Erotics of Fieldwork among Physicists” by Sharon Traweek in Choreographing History, Susan Foster, Ed.!
(Electronic)
4.! “The ‘kula ring’ of scientific success” Ch. 7 of Athena Unbound by Etzkowitz, Kemelgor and Uzzi (Electronic)
5.! LabLit.com blogs http://blogs.lablit.com/
6.! Excerpts from Chs. 2, 3 of Real Science by J. Ziman (Electronic)
7. “suzy the computer vs. doctor sexy” by Suzanne Franks and “gimp geek” by Thida Cornes She’s Such a Geek!! Newitz and Anders, eds.
(Bookshelf)
8. “Careers”, “Objectivity”, and “Warfare” from Science: A Four Thousand Year History by Patricia Fara (Electronic)
9.! The 3rd IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics (2008) ! please see this website and download any paper whose title interests you!!
http://www.uswip.org
Executive summary by Amy: !
The readings this week are a diverse mix, chosen to illuminate a general theme: what is the culture shared by engineers and scientists? !
From the outset, I should say that they are somewhat lacking, because I would like to represent scientific subcultures adequately and fairly.! In
particular, I! would like to have readings on subcultures of science dominated by women, and cultures that are located in nations other than the U.S. !
The readings I’ve found don’t really achieve the ideal balance.! Yet, I! hope that the blog “LabLit” gives some insight into a modern, and womanascendant, subculture, as will “dr sexy ... “ and “gimp geek” ... autobiographical vignettes from a biophysicist and IT professional, respectively.! Then
there is the website of the IUPAP, where if you choose, you can read a paper like “Women in Estonia: Many Duties, One Life”! or “Women and Science
in El Salvador”, or ... ! in order to see what physical science culture means to women in these nations. ! Sharon Traweek’s paper illuminates and
constrasts the cultures of high energy physics in the US and Japan.! ! We find out what these men think is beautiful (simplicity, usually);! what is good
scientific leadership style (different for U.S. and Japan); and what makes a good machine (sexy? cute? malleable?).
!
Most of the other references either homogenize scientific culture or examine the historically-dominant group of scientists! ... white European
and U.S. males. ! “The Shoulders of Giants” speaks of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, but the theme of this week’s seminar is seen in the environment in
which this exceptional scientist found herself.! ! “Power and the Pleasure” (which we began to read in an earlier week, on the topic of dualities)! talks
about traditional masculine styles of behavior in engineering, and asks whether there are feminine analogs.! The culture that it highlights is hacker
culture - the pleasure and gratification that engineers get from tinkering. !
The “Arrogance” article is a simple opinion piece, but in it you will recognize a cultural value placed behaviors that in a more communal context
would be seen as rude, dismissive and “ignorant”, in the service of scientific progress. ! The author tries to delineate where arrogance must stop
though (e.g. in the teaching of non-scientists, whenever ethics happens to be an issue, and when we try to mentor minority scientists.) ! !
The excerpts from “Real Science”! are an attempt to describe the nature of modern scientific culture ... one that had its roots in the 17th
century scientific revolution, was professionalized in the 19th century, and was fine-tuned (especially in terms of its ability to make a profit and wage
wars) since then.! Ziman tells us about the CUDOS system of scientific values, and points out that the structures of scientific communities are a
result of the knowledge-seeking process.! Yet also, the institutions and communities formed by scientists have acted back to shape the knowledgeseeking process in important ways. ! !
! The readings from Fara’s beautiful history of science were chosen to show dichotomous elements of scientific culture.! Were 19th century
scientists etherial scholars or active masters of powerful
knowledges? The speculation about the nature of optics fueled an acrimonious battle between the 19th century, romantic German scientists and the
English heirs of Newton’s objective science.! The necessary interaction between pure atomic science and the bomb project during the second world
war produced wildly clashing subcultures of scientists.!
Finally, the “kula ring” paper makes the point that it is not just “intellectual capital” but “social capital” that is required for one to be a
successful scientist.! This makes science analogous to certain societies in which the exchange of valuable goods binds people to each other in a cohesive
group. ! In this context, we might remember the unauthorized sharing of Rosalind Franklin’s images by Wilkins.! By virtue of this act, was Wilkins
binding himself in communality with Watson and Crick, and purposefully excluding Franklin from the kula ring of success?!
CULTURE? QUESS WHAT CULTURE? Janet and Meghan
GUESS THE DEPARTMENT HANDOUT—JANET & MEGHAN
The … Department teaches the concepts and methods that lead to an understanding of the
fundamental laws governing the physical universe.
Emphasis is placed on quantitative, analytical reasoning, as distinct from the mere acquisition
of facts. Particular importance is also attached to laboratory work because … are primarily
experimental and observational sciences.
________________________________________________________________________
______
… are among the great achievements of human intellect and at the same time powerful tools.
As Galileo said, the book of the universe "is written in the language of ..." The goal of the
department is to enable students to appreciate these achievements and use their power. To
that end, students in the department receive a firm foundation in … and the opportunity to
apply it - to statistics, physical science, biological science, computer science, social science,
operations research, education, and finance - the list grows.
________________________________________________________________________
______
At all levels of the … curriculum, students are engaged in learning about the functions and
evolution of diverse … systems as well as the methods by which … study nature. While
fulfilling the requirements for the major, students are able to build a broad … background by
taking courses focused on different levels of … organization, while also being able to
concentrate on specialized areas of particular passion if they choose.
________________________________________________________________________
______
The objective of the … Department is to offer effective training in the fundamental principles
and basic techniques of the science and to provide interested students with the opportunity
for advanced work in the main subdisciplines of modern ...
________________________________________________________________________
______
… is the study of algorithms and their implementation. This includes the study of … systems;
methods to specify algorithms (for people and … systems); and the formulation of theories
and models to aid in the understanding and analysis of the properties of algorithms, …
systems, and their interrelationship.
The … program is designed to provide students with a flexible set of … choices that can be
tailored to satisfy various interests and depths of study. All courses emphasize the
fundamental concepts of …, treating today's languages and systems as current examples of
the underlying concepts. The … laboratory provides up-to-date software and hardware
facilities.
________________________________________________________________________
______
… Department seeks to graduate students with a broad, rigorous education, emphasizing
strong analysis and synthesis skills. Our graduates will be well rounded and understand the
broader impacts of .... They will have the skills to adapt to new technical challenges,
communicate effectively, and collaborate well with others.
The … Department and its students provide to the College community a unique perspective
that integrates technical and nontechnical factors in the design of solutions to multifaceted
problems.
ANSWERS
Physics and Astronomy
The Physics and Astronomy Department teaches the concepts and methods that lead to an
understanding of the fundamental laws governing the physical universe.
Emphasis is placed on quantitative, analytical reasoning, as distinct from the mere
acquisition of facts. Particular importance is also attached to laboratory work because
physics and astronomy are primarily experimental and observational sciences.
Math and Statistics
Mathematics and Statistics are among the great achievements of human intellect and at the
same time powerful tools. As Galileo said, the book of the universe "is written in the
language of mathematics." The goal of the department is to enable students to appreciate
these achievements and use their power. To that end, students in the department receive a
firm foundation in pure mathematics and the opportunity to apply it - to statistics, physical
science, biological science, computer science, social science, operations research, education,
and finance - the list grows. All courses in the department also have as a general goal the
continuing development of various mathematical skills, among them:
•
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Graduates of the department follow many career paths, leading them after graduation to
graduate school, in mathematics, statistics, or other fields, or to professional schools or the
workplace.
Biology
At all levels of the Biology curriculum, students are engaged in learning about the functions
and evolution of diverse biological systems as well as the methods by which biologists
study nature. While fulfilling the requirements for the major, students are able to build a
broad biological background by taking courses focused on different levels of biological
organization, while also being able to concentrate on specialized areas of particular passion
if they choose.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
The objective of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department is to offer effective training in
the fundamental principles and basic techniques of the science and to provide interested
students with the opportunity for advanced work in the main subdisciplines of modern
chemistry.
Computer Science
Computer science is the study of algorithms and their implementation. This includes the
study of computer systems; methods to specify algorithms (for people and computer
systems); and the formulation of theories and models to aid in the understanding and
analysis of the properties of algorithms, computing systems, and their interrelationship.
The computer science program is designed to provide students with a flexible set of
computing choices that can be tailored to satisfy various interests and depths of study. All
courses emphasize the fundamental concepts of computer science, treating today's
languages and systems as current examples of the underlying concepts. The computer
science laboratory provides up-to-date software and hardware facilities.
Engineering
As stated in the introduction of this catalog, Swarthmore seeks to help its students realize
their fullest intellectual and personal potential, combined with a deep sense of ethical and
social concern.
Within this context the Engineering Department seeks to graduate students with a broad,
rigorous education, emphasizing strong analysis and synthesis skills. Our graduates will be
well rounded and understand the broader impacts of engineering. They will have the skills
to adapt to new technical challenges, communicate effectively, and collaborate well with
others.
The Engineering Department and its students provide to the College community a unique
perspective that integrates technical and nontechnical factors in the design of solutions to
multifaceted problems.
Combat Culture? Augusta
Unfortunately, the notes on Augusta's presentation are currently unavailable
Communal Culture? Goda
Here are Goda's handwritten notes for her presentation