#8 Gemma Milne talks about her book, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, the STS1Book 2021-22 | WeAreSTS
Release Date: 10/19/2021
#15 Gemma Milne on SMOKE AND MIRRORS in conversation with Jack Stilgoe | WeAreSTS
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Will robots steal my job? Will gene editing cure my cancer? HYPE is a fundamental part of science communication, the development of new technologies, and the crucially important interface between business, investment, and new technology. How does HYPE work? Can it be used for good? In this conversation at the 2022 STS1Book celebration at University College London, Gemma Milne discusses her book, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, with Jack Stilgoe. They discuss her interest in HYPE as an ever-present phenomenon in our society, and how it affects thinking about technology today. Gemma and Jack reflect on the...
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#14 Period policies: Exploring the debate on menstrual leave | WeAreSTS
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As someone who prides herself on being interested in women’s health and progress related to it, Sofia Sancho still had no idea what “menstrual leave” was when it suddenly was all over the news earlier this spring. Menstruation is a regular physiological phenomenon, happening to the vast majority of people with uteruses. Many people manage their periods just fine, but for some they can be extremely debilitating. For them, being able to take some extra days off work every month to manage symptoms can be a big relief. However, the policies have received a lot of critique. They can be...
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#13 BBC Wildlife Documentaries in the Age of Attenborough | WeAreSTS
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Natural history documentaries are hugely popular on British television. They offer great examples of science communication, and they have a long history, stretching back to the early days of broadcasting by the BBC, and more. As luck would have it, here in STS, we have an expert in these programmes and the people who create them. Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon is Associate Professor of Science Communication in the department. He teaches science journalism, sociology of science, and lots more. He also is co-director of our new MSc in Science Communication. A few years ago, Jean-Baptiste published a...
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#12 Top Marks for Philosophy of Science and Medicine in REF Impact | WeAreSTS
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Professor Sarah Edwards and Professor Phyllis Illari discuss their contributions the STS’s impact in philosophy of science and medicine. They were lead contributors to two top-rated “impact cases” in UCL’s 2021 entry to the REF assessment, the UK’s research excellence framework. That’s a national review of university research productivity. Sarah’s project involves policy-making about emerging diseases. Phyllis’s project involves policy-making when evidence in conflicting and incomplete. Simply put, “impact” is a measure of how much a influence an academic university...
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BONUS Scientific Research for Development, a seminar from Dr Michel Wahome | WeAreSTS
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Dr Michel Wahome presents a wide-ranging critique of the “research for development” (R4D) model in science and technology policy, with emphasis on its assumptions about innovation and progress. The deepest concerns we should have with this widely used model is its deep faith the science alone to solve social problems. The over-emphasis on science and technology alone is misguided. Alternatives - grounded in meaningful engagement, transdisciplinarity and decolonial practice - offer positive replacements.
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BONUS Pale, Male and Stale? Scientists on Netflix and Disney+ | WeAreSTS
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The lack of representation on screen is a politic issue on everybody’s lips. I investigate how popular streaming platforms, Netflix and Disney+, portray scientists in terms of gender, race, sexuality, neurodivergency, and socio-economic background. Is representation of the scientist moving away from being presented as white, straight, and male? If not, why do big corporations like Netflix and Disney+ continue to present this image of scientists, and what can we do to improve representation as individuals?
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BONUS “What is STS”? Three Ordinary Examples | WeAreSTS
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“What is STS?” This is a question STS students are asked on a regular basis by fiends and family. I studied it at UCL. In this episode, I explore what Science and Technology Studies (STS) is really all about. I interview three of my tutors about three ordinary things: the fruit fly Drosophila, the car and the idea of standard time. Each tells fascinating stories. Each also displays STS as a research skill. When we ask the right questions, we get underneath the subjects and engage fundamental questions.
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#11 UCL’s Warning Research Centre and Disaster Preparedness with Dr Carina Fearnley | WeAreSTS
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Dr Carina Fearnley, Associate Professor of Science Communication, talks about warning research and disaster preparedness. Carina is an expert in disaster warning and public engagement. Her research focuses on ways to improve the effectiveness of warning systems. She’s contributed a lot to communication around warning in the pandemic. Her long-term research focuses on volcano and tsunami warning systems. This is real world, life-saving public engagement. She is Director of UCL’s Warning Research Centre.
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#10 Help From UCL Careers Service | WeAreSTS
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Today, we’re talking CAREERS. In STS, careers thinking is at the core of our degrees. To help us learn more, I talk with Catherine Casale, our Careers Counsellor in UCL Careers Service. Catherine has massive experience listening to students talk about how they see the future. She knows how to help people see the possibilities ahead, then start deciding on what needs to be done to reach those goals. This episode is part 1 of our conversation. We’ll have part 2 of our conversation in a few weeks.
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#9 Introducing UCL’s new Master’s in Science Communication (MSc) | WeAreSTS
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Dr. Melanie Smallman and Dr. Jean-Baptiste Gouyon about UCL’s new Master’s in Science Communication (MSc). They discuss the philosophy behind the degree, some of its key modules, and how it is designed to balance practical skill development with foundational theory in communications. There also is discussion about how they plan to give this degree global relevance, careers thinking, and how activities in the degree will tie into other activities around UCL and around London.
info_outlineWill robots steal my job? Will gene editing cure my cancer? HYPE is a fundamental part of science communication, the development of new technologies, and the crucially important interface between business, investment, and new technology. How does HYPE work? Can it be used for good?
In this interview, Gemma Milne discusses her book, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, and her interest in HYPE as an ever-present phenomenon in our society. Gemma also discusses how she became interested in studying sociology of technology and innovation research, beginning with her first degree in mathematics, and her later journey through the finance and tech start-up industries, then science journalism.
Gemma’s book:
Milne, Gemma. 2020. Smoke and Mirrors. How Hype Obscures the Future and How to See Past It (London: Robinson). ISBN: 978-1-4721-4366-2.
SMOKE AND MIRRORS has been selected as the STS1Book for 2021-22. Each year, the Department asks all staff and students to read one book in common during the summer, then arrive for the new session ready to discuss both its substance and its broader value. Incoming students should read this prescribed book. It will be the subject of activities during induction week and will be used in Year 1 courses. Titles are selected for inclusion by the STS Undergraduate Programme Tutor from suggested offered by students and staff. For more information:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/about-sts/sts1book-programme
Gemma Milne also is co-host of the “Radical Science” podcast.
https://radicalsciencepodcast.com
And she is a PhD researcher in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).
She creates a newsletter, “Brain Reel” https://brainreel.substack.com
Website: gemmamilne.co.uk
https://gemmamilne.co.uk
Twitter: @gemmamilne
Featuring
Interviewee: Gemma Milne, Science and Technology Writer; also PhD student in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies
Interviewer: Professor Joe Cain, Professor in History and Philosophy of Biology
Music credits
“Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod
https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Sweeter Vermouth," by Kevin MacLeod
https://filmmusic.io/song/4450-sweeter-vermouth
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Production information
Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain.
Podcast information
“WeAreSTS” is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, and to leave feedback about the show, visit us online:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast
STS Students and staff also can find on the website information about how to get involved with our programme.
“WeAreSTS” producer is Professor Joe Cain.
Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS