
26 episodes

The Received Wisdom Shobita Parthasarathy & Jack Stilgoe
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- Science
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4.8 • 20 Ratings
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Are robots racist? Should we regulate gene editing? Have people stopped trusting experts? Does scientific research make the world a more unequal place? The Received Wisdom is a podcast about how to realize the potential of science and technology by challenging the received wisdom. Join Shobita and Jack as they talk to thinkers and doers from around the world about governing science and technology to make the world a better place.
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Science in Abortion Politics and the Failure of One Laptop Per Child ft. Morgan Ames
This month, Shobita and Jack discuss how scientists are engaging in the boiling politics of abortion in the United States, the implications of large language models (a new type of artificial intelligence), and Elon Musk's possible takeover of Twitter. And we have a fascinating conversation with Morgan Ames about her award-winning book The Charisma Machine, which focuses on the global One Laptop Per Child project. Ames is Professor of Practice at the School of Information and Associate Director of Research for the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine and Society at the University of California, Berkeley.
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Episode 24: The TRIPS Patent Waiver and Communicating Science Differently ft. Sabrina McCormick
In this episode, Shobita and Jack discuss this uncertain moment in the pandemic around the world, including the latest negotiations related to the TRIPS patent waiver related to COVID vaccines. They consider emerging efforts to develop a "pangenome" that emphasizes human genetic diversity. And they chat with Professor Sabrina McCormick, a scholar, policymaker, and filmmaker, about her efforts to advocate for climate change action in creative ways.
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Episode 23: The Myths of Genius, IP, and Surveillance ft. Chris Gilliard
This month, Jack and Shobita discuss the resignation of the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, African scientists' success in copying the Moderna vaccine and the potential long-term implications, and the politics of long COVID. And we speak with scholar and writer Chris Gilliard about the rise of surveillance technologies, their implications especially for marginalized communities, and what we can do about it.
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Theranos, Medical Devices, and Indigenous Knowledge on Climate Change ft. Kyle Powys Whyte
In this episode, Shobita and Jack discuss the recent conviction of the now-notorious Elizabeth Holmes, former CEO of Theranos, and what it means for tech hype. They talk about the UK government's recent decision to review the racial bias embedded in medical devices, and consider whether this will move equity objectives forward. And they speak with Kyle Powys Whyte, George Willis Pack Professor of Environment and Sustainability, and Affiliate Professor of Native American Studies and Philosophy, at the University of Michigan, about how indigenous knowledge can inform the science and policy discussions related to climate change.
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Episode 21: Considering an AI Bill of Rights, Facebook, and the Technological Surveillance of Truckers ft. Karen Levy
This month, Shobita and Jack discuss efforts to engage publics in the development and regulation of AI, including the AI Bill of Rights proposed by the White house, and the most recent Facebook controversies. And they talk to sociologist and lawyer Karen Levy about her forthcoming book examining the rise of technology-based surveillance in the trucking industry and its social, political, and labor implications.
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Episode 20: Risk, Expertise, and the Power of Community Perspectives in Science and Technology ft. Jason Delborne
In this episode, Shobita and Jack compare how the US and UK governments are managing risk and uncertainty in both pandemic policymaking and in their evolving artificial intelligence strategies. And they chat with Jason Delborne, a professor at North Carolina State University who has done both research and public and policy engagement related to gene drives, a new form of biotechnology that could transform our ecosystems.
Customer Reviews
Two leading thinkers in STS find a new voice
Shobita and Jack are at the forefront of thinking on the relationships between, science, technology, and society. Each has a clear public voice on a wide range of topics, and a history of commitment to making academic concepts both intelligible and engaged with current debates shaping our societies. I’m excited to see how they bring their skills to bare through this podcast, and I can confidently say you will not be disappointed.
Exciting!
Such a promising addition to the resources associated with STS!