**Vacancy Ph.D. Project**
* *
**Department of Philosophy & Science Studies
Institute for Science, Innovation & Society (ISIS)
Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen
**
**
/Title:
/The role and representation of scientific expertise in policy development and public debate: a biographical approach
/Project Manager & Supervisor:
/Prof. Dr. Hub Zwart
/Short description:
/We live in a knowledge society in which expert knowledge is both indispensable and contested. Professional practices and policy development are expected to be science-based but at the same time we recognize that the complexity of our world is beyond the grasp of any single form of expertise. Against this backdrop we are interested in the ways in which science-based expert knowledge is used and represented in our society. This involves a set of important questions. Are experts merely specialists, for example, generating data to be used by professional policy makers, or do they
have the right or even obligation to enter broader disputes on the relationships between science and society? To what extent are experts seen as credible, trustworthy and independent? Is it possible to develop a typology of forms of expertise, each with its own objectives and standards? Various pitfalls as well as best practices will be distinguished. We will opt for an interactive, biographical approach. We want to study on a case-by-case basis the recruitment of experts and the genesis of their societal visibility. Eventually, the status of science & society research itself will be at stake. On the one hand we want to describe and analyze the ways in which expert knowledge is used and represented, but eventually it
is our intention to develop a critical assessment.
/More information:
/Prof. Dr. H.A.E. Zwart, h.zwart@science. ru.nl - 00.31.24.3652038 -
www.filosofie. science.ru. nl
Dept. of Philosophy & Science Studies / Institute of Science,
Innovation & Society, Radboud University Nijmegen - P.O. Box 9010,
NL 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
*Institutional setting*
*The Department of Philosophy & Science Studies has a substantial track record for Science & Society research. In 2004 the /Centre for Society & Genomics /was established at our department. The functioning of genomics expertise in the knowledge society is an important issue of this centre. Moreover, for many years the
department has been involved in educational activities concerning the knowledge society (science & society courses as well as philosophy courses). Moreover, in 2003 we set up a master track Science Communication for science students. Since 2005, the
department (together with CSG and the Science Communication master track) became part of the /Institute of Science, Innovation & Society/ (ISIS), one of 5 research institutes of the Faculty of Science, and one of 22 research institutes of the Radboud University Nijmegen. The mission of ISIS is to understand, assess and improve
the interaction between science, technology and society. In other words, the Ph.D. project is firmly embedded in our research and educational activities, both thematically and institutionally.
Maximum salary 2472
Deadline: 6 11 2006
Applicant: master degree in philosophy, science studies or social science
/Applications:
/Applications (electronic format) including a letter of interest and CV, can be sent to: Human Resources (P&O), Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen.
pz@science.ru. nl - po box 9010 6500 GL Nijmegen
62.55.06
***
[sursa beasiswa]
