Changing Debates and Shifting Landscapes in Science Studies: Exploring How Graduate Students with Varied Backgrounds Think About the Role of Value-Judgments in Science

• DOI: 10.17351/ests2022.1179
• Publication Date: 2022-09-27T18:47:59Z
• Authors: Aishwarya Ramacha...; Jerry Achar; Georgia Green; Brynley Hanson-Wr...; Sophie Leiter; Gunilla Öberg
• Keywords: Value (mathematics); Nature of Science

Few studies consider how changes in science education might reduce barriers to fruitful engagement with scientific practices. This paper is co-authored by the participants and instructor of a small interdisciplinary graduate seminar at University British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver, Canada. The reflected on role value-judgments science, considering learning experiences student (AR, first author) four students (of total six registered seminar) who have backgrounds sciences (JA, GG, BHW, SL), their responses course materials, outlines lessons learned respect communication. AR was surprised find that enjoyed reading engaging texts as she thought they would be apprehensive about epistemic content, but effectively illustrated influenced social factors. Instead expressing concerns issues, students’ critiques pertained length writing style. They also felt some “unfairly” attacked scientists, could “dry,” “abstract,” overly “problem-focused” without offering concrete solutions. study suggests interventions which explicitly encourage conversation collaboration between more broadly can play crucial dismantling unknowingly held simplistic views other disciplines. It speaks critical necessity broad scholarship includes both natural humanities. noted initially believed react negatively outsiders’ concluded ought include meaningful practicing rarely case. illustrates importance using style vocabulary not disparaging towards scientists when introducing or researchers concepts studies. points need for investigating from different research may learn “see” use jargon implicit assumptions make listeners’ familiarity understanding specific idea.