Overview

Science occupies an ambiguous space in contemporary society. Scientific research is championed in relation to tackling environmental issues and diseases such as cancer and dementia, and science has made important contributions to today’s knowledge economies and knowledge societies. And yet science is considered by many to be remote, and even dangerous. It seems that as we have more science, we have less understanding of what science actually is. The new edition of this popular text redresses this knowledge gap and provides a novel framework for making sense of science, particularly in relation to contemporary social issues such as climate change. Using real-world examples, Mark Erickson explores what science is and how it is carried out, what the relationship between science and society is, how science is represented in contemporary culture, and how scientific institutions are structured. Throughout, the book brings together sociology, science and technology studies, cultural studies and philosophy to provide a far-reaching understanding of science and technology in the twenty-first century. Fully updated and expanded in its second edition, Science, Culture and Society will continue to be key reading on courses across the social sciences and humanities that engage with science in its social and cultural context.

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9780745662251

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After ten years, Mark Erickson's Science, Culture and Society remains the best all-round entry point to the world of science and technology studies. It is the one book that I would recommend to a student interested in this field, regardless of starting point the arts, the social sciences or, indeed, the natural sciences. This new edition features a comprehensive account of a molecular biology experiment that is both cutting-edge and characteristic of the world of high stakes research into which we are quickly moving. Steve Fuller, University of Warwick

After ten years, Mark Erickson s Science, Culture and Society remains the best all-round entry point to the world of science and technology studies. It is the one book that I would recommend to a student interested in this field, regardless of starting point the arts, the social sciences or, indeed, the natural sciences. This new edition features a comprehensive account of a molecular biology experiment that is both cutting-edge and characteristic of the world of high stakes research into which we are quickly moving. Steve Fuller, University of Warwick This book gives a masterful account of the key issues in science studies. Erickson has a remarkable ability to translate complex philosophical debates into accessible language, and he is sensitive to the different forms science has assumed. This book is an essential guide to the major debates about science and technology. Hugh Gusterson, The George Washington University

Author Information

Mark Erickson is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Brighton

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