Thinking in Systems
What does ANT stand for?
Actor-Network-Theory
Define Science and Technology Studies.
The branch of STS that focuses on the process and resources that contribute to the construction of knowledge, science, and technology. Or the science of science! It tends to be related to the subdisciplines of Philosophy, History, Sociology/Anthropology.
Name two cultural factors that influenced Inuit perspectives on the seal fur trade.
Fur economy, food insecurity, hunting, tradition etc.
What is a citizen scientist?
An untrained person, or civilian who participates in a science or research project.
What is the opposite of systems thinking?
Linear thinking.
Define "Low Church".
The “Low Church” is the side of STS that focuses on reform, activism, policy, governance, and funding. It is also called Science, Technology, and Society. It tends to be related to the disciplines of policy and political science.
Name two different variations on the world map, or describe them and their differences.
Mercator Projection, Peter's Projection, Polar Projection, etc.
Who were the "citizen scientists" in Millicent Shinn's study of babies?
The baby's mothers!
What’s the difference between Actor-Network-Theory and Systems Theory?
In ANT, all elements of the system are of equal value, whether they are animate or inanimate.
Define Constructivism.
Examining science and technology as constructed by politics, culture, beliefs, values and economics.
Every map has a…
What made the AIDS activists so demographically unique compared to previous activists?
They had a lot of cultural capital! (ex. They were young, white, middle/upper class men)
If you were building a systems chart of a microscope, name four things that would need to be included in it.
Other equipment, scientists, funders, the laboratory, the institution the lab is in, the slides, what is being examined, publishers, publications etc.
Define Positivism.
A viewpoint which believes “science is objective, neutral, true and that all facts can be proven through the scientific method, experiments, and other scientific processes because science is “verifiable”.”
Name two ways that knowledge becomes power.
When it is given value, in times when it becomes valuable, in settings when it is valuable.
What were COVID researchers able to learn from studying the Corrupted Blood Pandemic in World of Warcraft?
The Effect of First Responders, Empathetic responses vs sadistic responses, Did populations show up just to watch?, Did the voluntary quarantine work?, How much did people value the lives of their characters and the time they had invested in them? etc.
Describe The Strong Programme.
It doesn’t matter whether a scientific theory is “true” or “false”. Both are socially constructed and their construction should be treated in the same way.
What have scientists asked Pokémon Go players to help with?
Taxonomy research.