Celebrating Bianca Vienni-Baptista's Habilitation

Titled “Cultural studies of science and technology: intersections in transdisciplinary research” the lecture focused on the dialogue of societal actors in important practices such as scientific, technological, environmental and engineering practices. Included were several levels of scientific dialogue, for instance, connecting research with the societal and policy level. In the tradition of the Transdisciplinarity Lab (TdLab) of the Department of Environmental Systems Science, the lecture incorporated transdisciplinary theory and practice which encourage a strong science-society dialogue.

In the lecture, Bianca showed her career path and shared a vision for topics straddling Cultural Studies of Science and Science and Technology Studies (STS). As an anthropologist of science and technology, she navigates these intersections with her Cultural Studies of Science and Technology (CSTS) group. Her aim for this field is to encourage it to look beyond its niche and to grow into a flourishing basis for questions concerning the sociocultural dimensions of science and technology. The problem-driven and pluralist approaches offered in inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching practices enable the collaboration of societal actors, knowledge cultures and fields to address such questions.

Bianca’s current research projects embedded at the TdLab bring the transdisciplinary approach into such reflections: DIAMOND is aiming at the transdisciplinary co-production of Integrated Assessment Models for Net-zero, sustainable Development. CoSi is contributing to energy transition models and simulation-based assessments that integrate Social Sciences and Humanities research. INTERSECTIONS studies interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in various case studies on the levels of cultures, practices, and policies, and in their interconnectedness.

One of the several highlights of Bianca’s lecture was her vision for creating a cultural studies of science and technology program that focuses on intersections of research cultures, practices and policies. Her proposition reflects the multidimensionality of her and the CSTS group’s work and confronts systemic complexities within science and technology in a way that allows for an application and reflection within diverse research contexts.

As a group that has grown so strongly in recent years thanks to Bianca’s work, we once again extend our warmest congratulations to her. We remain inspired by her work and wish her continued success.

The CSTS Group members