1. The place of utopia
in today’s science
Filipa M. Ribeiro – Universidade de Aveiro
filipa.ribeiro@gmail.com
2. Outline
Relationship between science and
utopia in today‟s R&D centres;
The role of science communication;
Description of today‟s scientists‟
utopias;
3. Main objectives
To understand what utopias scientists have and
relate them to key-indicators:
science as a way of knowledge;
science as a job;
science in relation to communication.
To understand the possible relations between
scientists‟ utopias, the concept of knowledge and
contemporary science communication.
4. Background
Both science and utopia examine impossible
possibilities that can, in the future, become
feasible.
Both are guided by ideals and antecipate the
future.
Utopia opens the way for new paradigms.
5. Background
«how to know» vs the «know-how».
Utopia focuses in knowing «how to be».
Utopia may release science from its own fears,
dogmas and prejudices.
It isn‟t enough to know how it is, we must know
«how it should be»
6. Background
Utopia shows science that there are not only new
paradigms emerging, but also parallel paradigms.
Utopia is the motivation to reach new knowledge
(through communication).
Utopia challenges science, communication and
overlaps ethics.
7. Methods
May 2008 – October 2008;
1684 e-mails were sent to scientists from all over
the world;
Natural sciences: 1149 e-mails
Social sciences: 535
8. Methods
Data sample: 388 scientists;
Random sampling method;
The data about the participants were obtained
through:
Public Library of Science (Plos One, Plos Genetics,
Plos Clinical Trials, Plos Medicine, Plos Computational
Biology, Plos Biology, Plos Pathogens;
the websites of the universities randomly chosen;
a personal contact list.
10. Methods
Variables:
sex;
age;
geographical location;
scientific field.
Question:
“What is your greatest utopia as a scientist/researcher?”
The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS.
11. Methods
1.1) science as a type of
knowledge;
1. collective utopias 1.2) science as a job;
1.3) utopias related to
science communication.
2.1) science as a type of
2. individual utopias knowledge;
2.2) science as a job;
2.3) utopias related to
science communication.
3. without utopias
12. Results
Respondents:
average age = 41.7 years;
youngest individual: 24 years old;
oldest individual = 70 years old.
Shunting line standard = 8.4
Variance is almost 70.
13. Results
“To have some answers to questions like: do we make
the universe or is the universe that makes us?”;
“To win the nobel prize”;
“I would say 'reductionism, i.e., understanding
macroscopic bahaviour from microscopic laws„”;
“To discover an amazing technique or invention or
product that would benefit the consumers worldwide and
be a hit commercially worldwide”;
14. Results
“That one day scientists will also have the same fame,
fans, and finances as some other celebrities have; and
that young and old people will look up to, admire and
fantacise about scientists”;
“God”;
“To simulate life”;
“The uncovering of new knowledge that is „worth‟
uncovering, and the sight of the face of a student when a
new discovery is made in their hands.”;
15. Results
Europe Africa
America
Distribution of the answers obtained compared to the ones that were sent.
16. Results
Comparative synthesis
CURK: Colective utopia related to knowledge
among the different types of IUSJ: Individual utopias related to science as a job
utopias within the groups of IUK: Individual utopias related to knowledge
IUSC: Individual utopias related to Science communication
natural and social sciences. NU: No utopias
17. Results
Phylo Psycho Sociol. Econo Journal. Educat. Polit. Demog. Hist. Geog.
CU
Knowledge
IU
Knowledge
IU
JOB
IU
Comm
No
utopias
Synthesis of the type of utopias mentioned in the social sciences group
18. Results
Envir. Astro- Physics Che Eco- Biolo Medi P.H.
Maths m Eng.
nomy logy gy cine
CU
Knowledge
IU
Knowledge
IU
JOB
IU
Comm
No
utopias
Synthesis of the type of utopias mentioned in the natural sciences group.
19. Results
Distribution of utopias according to CURK: Colective utopia related to knowledge
IUSJ: Individual utopias related to science as a job
gender within the group of social IUK: Individual utopias related to knowledge
sciences. IUSC: Individual utopias related to Science communication
NU: No utopias
20. Results Penso que falta a
legenda, ou título
do gráf.
Distribution of utopias by sex within the group of natural sciences.
21. Discussion
There is a uniformity within the utopias mentioned
by researchers from the natural and social
sciences;
Higher prevalence of researchers without utopias;
There are new opportunities towards another
concept of science which would be nearer the
concept of post-human science;
22. Discussion
There isn‟t an explicit and clear relationship
between utopia, science and communication;
Science communication is still an activity that is
undervalued by the scientific community;
Science is still seen as the use of capable rational
skills and as a discovery method that postulates
freely chosen concepts.
e.g.: “I don't relate utopia to science. Science
has very well defined and achievable
purposes, so there's not much utopic about it”
Scientist from Singapore
23. Summary
It was obtained a very realistic environment,
which is essential for communication studies;
Europe is the Continent with the highest
percentage of answers from the category of “no
utopias” (34.9%) and Africa has the highest
percentage of collective utopias related to
knowledge (22.4%);
Greater prevalence of individual utopias within the
natural sciences, as well as with the utopias
related to the job itself.
24. Summary
America is where there are “more complete”
visions about science;
Gender does not influence views about
contemporary science, despite the fact that
female researchers express more worries about
the impact of science in society;
25. I believe…
…that utopia is the greatest challenge that mankind
has to deal with…
and…
If you can look into the seeds of time and say which
grain will grow and which will not, speak…
William Shakespeare, Macbeth
