Some Elements of the Regime of Management of Irrelevance in Science. Issue 1 (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neves, Fabrício Monteiro
• Is Part Of: East Asian science, technology and society. Volume 16:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: Center and periphery -- peripheralization -- science and technology studies -- scientific hierarchies; Centro e Periferia -- Perifericalização -- Estudos de Ciência e Tecnologia -- Hierarquias científicas; Centro y Periferia -- Periferización -- Estudios de la Ciencia y la Tecnología -- Jerarquías Científicas; Science -- East Asia -- Periodicals; Technology -- East Asia -- Periodicals; Science; Technology; East Asia; Periodicals; 306.46095
• DOI: 10.1080/18752160.2021.2013397
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1875-2160

Abstract

Abstract: In contexts of scientific production deemed peripheral, knowledge produced is depicted in a condition of inferiority relative to that produced in other contexts; the daily practice of science is then guided by values and procedures, be they conscious or not, of peripheralization. This research note discusses the constitution, reproduction and generalization of peripheralization into what I call a regime of management of irrelevance in science: a scientific process with its own pragmatic and value content, whose elements will be presented in this work. These elements were identified during field research in laboratories and interviews with key interlocutors (research leaders) of biotechnology research teams in Brazil. What matters here is instead of taking the center/periphery dichotomy as an objective structure of the scientific system—a common approach in science and technology studies—it is shown as expecta-tions with practical repercussions.