Science In Context

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This collection of eighteen readings serves as a foundational text for undergraduates in sociology of science courses. It surveys articles published between 1961 and 1981, offering a valuable overview for students in social and political studies of science, science and technology, and related fields such as environmental sciences, geography, philosophy, and history of science. The editors focus on the relationship between the subculture of science and the surrounding wider culture. From this perspective, science emerges as a source of knowledge and competence, emphasizing its interaction with context. This approach not only highlights aspects of science that are of practical interest but also raises crucial issues regarding credibility, authority distribution in society, and cultural interactions. The essays are organized into five sections: The Organization of Academic Communication and Control; The Culture of Science; The Interaction of Science and Technology; The Interaction of Science and Society; and Science as Expertise. The editors provide a general introduction, section introductions, bibliographical notes, and an extensive bibliography. Barry Barnes is a Lecturer at the Science Studies Unit, University of Edinburgh, while David Edge serves as the Director of the same unit and is a joint editor of the journal, Social Studies of Science.