The Science Slot Machine

The Science Slot Machine

It’s not science. It’s not gambling. It’s both! Welcome to the Science Slot Machine, a dangerous game of science, research, luck, and improvisation. Now it's time to send us your topics! Simply send us an email at scienceslotmachine@gmail.com This Podcast is brought to you by students of the Science and Technology Studies Master program at the University of Vienna. Every episode we pick a random topic from Science and Technology suggested by you, dear listeners. Then we do our research on this very topic and aim to present it from an STS perspective.

  1. In The Mood For Food

    03/25/2021

    In The Mood For Food

    💖 Fooooooood 💖 🍎 In this episode, Robbie, Nora, and Costa take a closer look at food 🍌 How can we look at food? And how can we look at food through an STS (Science and Technology Studies) lens? We discuss various aspects of food, including food production, our relations to food, food waste, and many more! What can we learn about societies and humans when looking at our relation to food ❓ Also, we try to discover some recent trends within the topics of food production and consumption 🌟 In order to gain more insights, we explore different angles, theories, and concepts from STS and beyond. We discuss Langdon Winner’s article “Do Artefacts Have Politics?”, a chapter from the STS Handbook, and Sheila Jasanoff’s notion of “co-production”. Tune in to get to know more about how we can look at food through an STS lens 🔊 Sources: Iles, A., Graddy-Lovelace, G., Montenegro, M. & Galt, Ryan. (2016). Agricultural systems: Co-producing knowledge and food. In U. Felt, R. Fouche, C. Miller, L. Smith-Doerr (Eds.), The Handbook of Science and Technology Studies (4 th edition) (pp. 943-972). Cambridge: The MIT Press. Jasanoff, S. (2004). The Idiom of Co-production. In States of Knowledge. The Co-Production of Science and Social Order (pp. 1-12) . London: Routledge. Winner, L. (1986). Do Artifacts Have Politics? In The Whale and the Reactor. A Search for Limits in an Age of High Technology (pp. 19-39) . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Sound from Zapsplat.com

    24 min
  2. Scientific Misconduct

    03/07/2021

    Scientific Misconduct

    In this episode, the Science Slot Machine team discusses the interview with professor Ulrike Felt further and explores pathways to think about science, different practices, and scientific misconduct 👀 But first, we are happy to announce that we are bringing on a new team member! In this episode, fellow STS master’s student Nora joins Robbie, Costa, and Harry for the first time 👯👯 Get to know more about her in the episode 👋 Here, the four of us discuss various aspects of scientific misconduct including plagiarism, false data fabrication, and issues of (co)authorship ☝ While we also touch upon famous cases of plagiarism like the recent case of minister Aschbacher in Austria, we ask ourselves how scientific practice can actually be improved and how good scientific practice can actually be achieved❓ Tune in to get to know more about misconduct, responsibility, and trust in science 🔊 References: Shapin, Steven, & Schaffer, Simon. (1985). Leviathan and the Air-Pump: Hobbes, Boyle, and the Experimental Life. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Merton, Robert K. (1973) [1942]. The Normative Structure of Science. In Robert K. Merton Robert (ed.), The Sociology of Science: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations (pp. 267-278). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Weber, Stefan. (2009). Das Google-Copy-Paste-Syndrom: Wie Netzplagiate Ausbildung und Wissen gefährden (2., aktualisierte und erw. Aufl.. ed., Telepolis). Hannover: Heise. Weber, Stefan. (n.d.). Doz. Dr. Stefan Weber. Sachverständiger für Plagiatsprüfung. Accessed March 6, 2021. https://plagiatsgutachten.com/.

    47 min
  3. Sustainability in Everyday Life (Part II)

    01/27/2021

    Sustainability in Everyday Life (Part II)

    In part II of our discussion of sustainability ♻️ the Science Slot Machine team turns to topics like fashion 💃, new and holistic approaches ♻️, and the usual STS (Science and Technology Studies) spin 🔱. Therefore, scholars like Sheila Jasanoff or Ulrich Brand and their concepts are discussed and put into relation. HUGE shoutout to Ivana Dimitrova 👧🧠 who shared her opinion on and experience with slow fashion. 👗👖  If you are living in Bulgaria and willing to try out the concept of a more sustainable fashion, check out the “Exchange Collective, Майна” community Ivana created. We are also ultra thankful to Katharina Buiten 👩🧠who reminded us about the different approaches towards sustainability and the holistic perspective we could apply to it. 🍀 Don’t forget to look up the digital magazine she represents ➡️ Tech & Nature, dedicated entirely to sustainable news, solutions, and ideas.  Some local sustainability startups 🚀we mention in the episode that you might want to know more about are ➡️ TooGoodToGo, Refurbed, Rebel Meat, ZIRP Insects, and Damn Plastic. In the sources, you can find a link to a list of all zero waste shops in Vienna. :) And if you are in the corporate world 👔 make sure you get more familiar with the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 🧐 Drop us your comments and opinions on our social media channels: 🤳🏽 Instagram @ science_slotmachine  Facebook @ TheScienceSlotMachine  Twitter @ SciSlotMachine  🗓️ This episode was recorded on January 7th, 2021. 🗓️ Last but not least: Let’s spin the science slot machine reels again and see which topic hits the jackpot! 🎰 Drop us your suggestions at scienceslotmachine@gmail.com Sources: Music & Sounds https://icons8.com/ & https://freesound.org/  Literature: Bourdieu, P. (2020). Habitus and Field: General Sociology, Volume 2 (1982-1983) Brand, U. & Wissen M. (2017). Imperiale Lebensweise. Jasanoff, S. (2003). In a Constitutional Moment: Science and Social Order at the Millennium. Jasanoff, S. (2010). A New Climate for Society. Pörksen, U. (1995). Plastic Words: The Tyranny of a Modular Language Österreichischer Verkehr erreicht Klimaziel für 2020 - www.techandnature.com Zero Waste Shops: Hier kannst du in Wien plastikfrei einkaufen - www.tecandnature.com  Claus Lamm: Der Wiener Psychologe, der eine Klimaschutz-Diät empfiehlt -www.techandnature.com Stadt Wien - Urban Farming  TU-Honig: Reiche erste Ernte

    47 min
  4. Sustainability in Everyday Life (Part I)

    01/13/2021

    Sustainability in Everyday Life (Part I)

    “New year, new me” 🎉 strikes again and as we would like to live more mindfully in 2021, we are happy to kick off the first episode of the year with the topic of Sustainability. ♻️ Sustainability… a buzzword of our time! How can we think about it? And how can we define it? In Part 1 Robbie, Harry & Costa scratch the surface of the endless elements of sustainable living. 🍀 Generally speaking, sustainability includes three main aspects - environment 🌍, society 👭, and economy 📈, as the three main pillars are long term environmental practices, a better quality of life for all members of society, and sustainable economic development. In this episode, we discuss a variety of topics related to sustainability, climate change, and environmentally friendly projects such as the sustainable development goals (SDGs), reducing greenwashing inequality, innovative solutions, frugal innovation. What it’s all about, and who is responsible? The individual or societies as a whole? ❓❗️ We are extremely thankful to Dimitar (Dino) Kirov who shared some of his knowledge on sustainable mobility. 🚗☢️ His comment is a great example of how less we actually know about sustainable solutions and that sustainability often serves as a marketing strategy rather than a way of changing the world. If you are interested in learning more about “full and plug-in hybrids or battery electric vehicles”, check out this essay by Dino Kirov. ⬅️ Sustainability is such a broad and important topic that we barely managed to talk about all the different angles you can look at it from. Therefore, we continue our philosophical debates on sustainability in Part II, where we explore further the concept of slow and fast fashion as well as different STS approaches towards sustainability. ⏯ 🔔 Let us know what are your thoughts on sustainability! 🔔 Drop us your comments and opinions on our social media channels: 🤳🏽 Instagram @science_slotmachine Facebook @TheScienceSlotMachine Twitter @SciSlotMachine  🗓️ This episode was recorded on January 7th, 2021. 🗓️ Last but not least: Let’s spin the science slot machine reels again and see which topic hits the jackpot! 🎰 Drop us your suggestions at scienceslotmachine@gmail.com Sources: Sounds www.bensound.com Literature: Jasanoff, S. (2003). In a Constitutional Moment: Science and Social Order at the Millennium. Jasanoff, S. (2010). A New Climate for Society. Heede, R. (2013). Tracing anthropogenic carbon dioxide and methane emissions to fossil fuel and cement producers Pörksen, U. (1995). Plastic Words: The Tyranny of a Modular Language Österreichische Haushalte produzieren jährlich 43,2 Kilogramm E-Waste - www.techandnature.com Worst Plastic Polluters in 2020 - Statista.com

    46 min
  5. 2020 Recap

    12/30/2020

    2020 Recap

    Sooo, how would you describe 2020 in one word? 🧐 A challenge, a resilience, an Oaschloch? What would you remember this year with? Lockdown, Zoom, home-office?😷 2020 certainly was a very different year one which surprised us with a variety of events, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises. In this episode, the Science Slot Machine Team - Harry, Robbie, and Costa, elaborate on some of the highlights of 2020 such as the Australian wildfires, the COVID-19 outbreak, the Black Lives Matter movement, the US elections. 🏴 Despite the tough times, 2020 had a bright side as well and forced us to grow exponentially as individuals and as a society. The “new normal” is not only about wearing a mask but also about accepting the need for a change. 🏳️ Do you think the difficulties we experienced in the last 12 months would make us more optimistic and hopeful in the future? ❤️ Slow and fast disasters, standardization, and the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) are a few of the STS angles we managed to apply to this topic. 🎓 🎄⭐ The Science Slot Machine wishes you an AMAZING 2021! 🎄⭐ ➡️ Let us know what would you remember 2020 with, what lessons did you learn? :) ⬅️ Drop us your comments and opinions on our social media channels: 🤳🏽 Instagram @science_slotmachine Facebook @TheScienceSlotMachine Twitter @SciSlotMachine  🗓️ This episode was recorded on December 28th, 2020. 🗓️ Last but not least: Let’s spin the science slot machine reels again and see which topic hits the jackpot! 🎰 Drop us your suggestions at scienceslotmachine@gmail.com Sources: Music & Sounds https://icons8.com/ & https://freesound.org/

    56 min
  6. Consumerism

    12/16/2020

    Consumerism

    Did you prepare Christmas presents for friends and family already? 🎁 Be honest—how many presents did you purchase on Black Friday? In this episode, Harry, Robbie, and Costa discuss the wide topic of consumerism with the coming holidays in mind. We reflect on e-shopping, monitoring consumer behavior, planned obsolescence, reasserting the activist component back into Science and Technology Studies. 🛒 If you’re worried about being judged on this episode for your online shopping, don’t worry! We’re also very guilty ourselves. 🛍️ Have you heard of the social theory of Consumer Society (Konsumgesellschaft)? Actually, despite the negative association with the word “consumerism”, this social and economic order encourages the competitive environment among manufactures which led to many industrial revolutions and more quality and accessible goods and services for everyone. 🏭 Don't forget to check out Kyoobikel - a local startup and an excellent example of the hybrid systems we discuss in the episode. :)                                                     🎄⭐ The Science Slot Machine wishes you very HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 🎄⭐ Drop us your comments and opinions about consumer society and remember to share your highlights from 2020 on our social media channels: 🤳🏽 Instagram @science_slotmachine Facebook @TheScienceSlotMachine Twitter @SciSlotMachine  🗓️ This episode was recorded on December 12th, 2020. 🗓️ Last but not least: Let’s spin the science slot machine reels again and see which topic hits the jackpot! 🎰 Drop us your suggestions at scienceslotmachine@gmail.com Sources: Music - www.epidemicsound.com Literature: Consumer Check: Black Friday & Cyber Monday Black Friday - Milliardenumsatz zum Start des Weihnachtsgeschäfts erwartet Book of Abstracts, Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies: 18th STS Conference Graz 2019 6th – 7th May 2019. (2019). TU Graz. Cutcliffe, S. A. (2001). The Historical Emergence of Sts as an Academic Field in the United States. Argumentos De Razón Técnica 4, 281-292.

    40 min

About

It’s not science. It’s not gambling. It’s both! Welcome to the Science Slot Machine, a dangerous game of science, research, luck, and improvisation. Now it's time to send us your topics! Simply send us an email at scienceslotmachine@gmail.com This Podcast is brought to you by students of the Science and Technology Studies Master program at the University of Vienna. Every episode we pick a random topic from Science and Technology suggested by you, dear listeners. Then we do our research on this very topic and aim to present it from an STS perspective.