Lean Ceccarelli: At the Frontiers of Science

Date: 
Thu., Jan. 17, 2013, 5:00pm - , 6:30pm

The STS Colloquium continues this Thursday, January 17. Please join us, and let others know (poster attached).

"AT THE FRONTIERS OF SCIENCE: AN AMERICAN RHETORIC OF EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION"

Thursday, January 17, 5:00-6:30pm, Buchanan Tower 1197
LEAH CECCARELLI, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Reporting highlights from her forthcoming book, Leah Ceccarelli examines a pervasive metaphor, from its first appearance in the public address of American intellectuals and politicians in the early 20th century, to its most recent uses in the speeches of various scientists arguing for increased research funding today. She asks what is selected and what is deflected when the "frontier of science" metaphor is deployed, what effects this terministic screen has on those who use it, and what rhetorical moves are made by those who try to counter its mythic appeal. Through a close reading of the public address of scientists and politicians and the reception of their audiences, we come to see how the frontier of science metaphor guides scientific research in particular ways and sometimes blocks scientists from achieving the goals they set out to achieve.

STS at UBC: http://sts.arts.ubc.ca
STS Colloquium: http://sts.arts.ubc.ca/colloquium-events/sts-colloquium/

Series supported by UBC Node.