Overview
ASSIGNMENT:
This week's discussion aims to deepen our understanding of how technological developments do not "just happen" but how they are shaped by other interests. We will look closely at how "risks" are not only being constructed and managed by a small group of corporate and government experts but also how risk management tends to exclude meaningful input from other actors (e.g. environmental organizations, communities, average day citizens etc.). Through the use of a real-world example of nuclear waste management in Finland, the discussion aims to show how science and technology are neither "neutral" nor democratic. With the stakes having never been that high, this opens up the question: how could we truly democratize science/technology in the age of uncertainty.
Instructions: Carefully study and follow directions below.
Background Information: Nuclear power plants worldwide have generated over 300,000 metric tons of high-level radioactive waste, with an additional 12,000 tons added each year. The documentary Into Eternity (click "play") offers a compelling glimpse into Finland's Onkalo waste repository project and its efforts to establish long-term storage solutions for nuclear waste. Through interviews with scientists, political representatives, theologians, and philosophers, the film delves into the limits of science and human knowledge, highlighting the inherently social and political nature of science and technology.
Original Post (min of 250 words): After watching the entire documentary, craft a post that delves into the following aspects:
- Stakeholder Perspectives on Technological Risk: Analyze how different stakeholders, including scientists, politicians, and philosophers, conceptualize and construct "technological risk" in the context of nuclear waste management. Discuss the varying approaches to "science" among these groups.
- Theoretical Analysis: Theoretical Analysis: Utilize theoretical concepts from Lessons 6 and 7 to explain these differing viewpoints. Consider the distinction between the logic of science and the establishment of science, and how technology and science act as undemocratic forms of politics driven by more powerful actors in society. In addition, you may also want to consider tying it this back to Beck's Risk Society theory, which addresses how societal and environmental risks are evaluated by experts predominantly aligned with state or corporate actors, often sidelining the views of others from the decision-making process. Again, plenty of analytical angles to choose from here.
- Strategies for Democratizing Science and Technology: Propose potential strategies for democratizing science and technology in our society. Consider how science and technology can be made more inclusive and representative of diverse perspectives, especially in the context of high-stake risks like nuclear waste management.
Ensure that your post is well-informed by the documentary's content as well as the insights provided in lessons 6 and 7. Your post should not only summarize the documentary but also critically engage with its themes, applying relevant theoretical frameworks to deepen the analysis.