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- Elzinga, Aant, 1937
(author)
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The Science of Science in China: Report by a Specialist in Science Policy : An STS report from China 10-24 Sept 1980
- 1981
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In: Science, Technology, & Human Values. ; 6:35, s. 18-21
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Report of a two-week visit to China (10-24 Sept) in 1980, hosted by the Preparatory Committee of the Chinese Science of Science Association. At the time Chinese policy makers were interested in contemporary trends in research policy and foresight relating to priority setting in fields of science and technology. The paper describes initiatives taken to introduce what we call science and technology studies (STS) and ongoing efforts aimed at encouraging scholarly exchange with researchers in the West. Interviews were made with a number of senior scholars affiliated with the Chinese Social Sciences Academy to gain some understanding of the various changes taking place in science policy studies and the field’s relationship to policy makers at national and regional levels.
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| 2. |
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Changing Trends in Antarctic Research
- 1993
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Editorial collection (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This book gives an update 1993 on the then rapidly changing events surrounding the introduction of an environmental protection regime in Antarctica. The volume stems from an International Symposium in Göteborg, 30 Septembr - October 1, 1991 to mark the 3oth anniversary year of the Antarctic Treaty, with a special concluding chapter based on an evaluation 1991 of the activities of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The evaluation was commissioned by ICSU and it was led by Professor Rita R. Colwell of the University of Maryland, at the time vice chair of NAS's Polar research Board. Individual chapters are based on conference presentations by Finn Solie (who had been involved in the drafting of the Antarctic treaty), Nigel Bonner (UK), Anders karlqvist (Sweden), Olav Orheim (Norway), James N. Barnes (ASOC), Bruce Davies (Australia), Barry Heywood (BAS, UK), Kent Larsson (Sweden), as well as prepared statements by Riita Mansukoski, Paul-Christian Rieber, Jan H. Stel, and Jarl-Ove Strömberg.
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| 3. |
- Elzinga, Aant, 1937
(author)
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Achievements of the Second International Polar Year
- 2010
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In: S. Barr & C. Lüdecke (eds.), The History of the International Polar Years (IPYs). From Pole to Pole. - Berlin & Heidelberg : Springer Verlag. - 9783642124020
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The context and conditions of research and monitoring at the time of IPY-2 had changed dramatically compared to those obtaining during IPY-1. In this respect at least six aspects must be considered when it comes to assessing achievements and limitations 1932–1933: (i) geopolitics and economics, (ii) practical benefits and concerns at the time, (iii) the organizational framework of the enterprise, (iv) logistics, including new modes of communication and transportation, (v) new instruments and other tools for research on and monitoring of geophysical phenomena, particularly in the domains of meteorology, geomagnetics and aurorae and (vi) the advent of a new hypothetico-deductive ideal of science that to some extent moderated the force of the older inductivist epistemology that had permeated the activities of IPY-1.
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| 4. |
- Elzinga, Aant, 1937
(author)
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Alexandra Hofmänner's paper "The African Eve Effect in Science" : Critical commentary
- 2011
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In: Archaeologies, Journal of the World Congress of Archeology. ; 7:1, s. 3-5
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This is a comment on Alexandra Hofmänner's paper that identifies what she calls the "African Eve" effect in science. The term Matthew effect was coined by Robert Merton in 1968 to refer to the situation where those researchers who are privileged to have most resources and are most cited attract more resources and further citations. In 1993 Margaret W. Rossiter introduced the concept of the Matilda effect to analyse a systemic gender skew endemic to the reward system in science. Hofmänner introduces the nótion of an Afrcan Eve effect as an explanatory concept for analysing discursive conventions that in a global perspective project imaginary geographies whereby researchers in non-Western countries are rendered invisible or very low in the hierarchies of existing disciplines. This is not only a matter of a geographical or sociological skew but very much one of social epistemology and associated (philosophical) anthropological categories and dominant methodologies for acquiring data in the field, and transporting it from the peripheries to world centers of calculation and interpretation where "viable" theories are created and published. In making her case she utilises a number of concepts from the field of science and technology studies (STS). The reviewer welcomes the analysis as an interesting re-introduction of philosophical anthropology into science studies, suggesting that further development of the discussion may benefit from linking both to earlier meta-theoretical discussions by Sandra Harding and Donna Haraway, as well as philosophical anthropology as developed in critical theory through the work of Jürgen Habermas and more recently by Andrew Feenberg. At the same time the comment points to a number of weaknesses in the exemplifications used. Among other I challenge the claim that historically a major feature of the Nobel Prize institution and its procedures for recognizing excellence in science was the systematic incorporation of an African Eve effect as it is described by Hofmänner.
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| 5. |
- Elzinga, Aant, 1937
(author)
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An Evaluation of the Achievements of the First Polar Year
- 2010
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In: S. Barr & C. Lüdecke (eds.), History of the International Polar Years (IPYs). From Pole to Pole. - Berlin & Heidelberg : Springer Verlag. - 9783642124020
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- First of all it should be noted that the first polar year did not start from scratch. During the 50 years prior to it a lot of polar expeditions with significant research components had already taken place. Differentiation in science together with societal needs of agriculture, commerce and navigation had contributed to the existence of meteorology and magnetic studies as important disciplines. Reporting and plotting weather observations had become systematised and benefited from the development of telegraph services. Systematic observation in the upper part of the northern hemisphere was however lacking, while at the same time it was intimated that weather events in that region might have a bearing on weather variability in Europe and North America. What was new and pioneering with the first international polar year was its dedication to obtaining the first series ever of coordinated synoptic observations at multiple locations in the Arctic. Moreover, it was the first international meteorological experiment in a defined region over a specific period of observation. In addition there were two regular stations set in the far south (see below), plus a meteorological station in Port Stanley,1 while 35 temperate and tropical observatories were also engaged. Magnetic observatories all over the world were involved.
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| 6. |
- Elzinga, Aant, 1937
(author)
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Andra forskningsvillkor skapade dåtidens nobelpristagare
- 2006
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In: Teori och praktik. En tidskrift från Malmös högskola. ; :04/2006, s. 34-41
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Vilka förutsättningar krävs för en kreativ forskning som leder fram till Nobelpris. Artikeln är tillkommen i en aktuell debatt efter Folkpartiets utspel i valrörelsen om att odla fram nya nobelpristagare vid svenska universitet i framtiden. Artikeln ger ett kritiskt perspektiv med historiska exempel som visar att utspelet var naiv och att helt andra förutsättningar än de som finns nu vid våra universitet krävs för att Sverige ska ta hem fler Nobelpris i framtiden.
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| 8. |
- Elzinga, Aant, 1937, et al.
(author)
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Contentious Science : Theme at Graduate Research School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC) 2001
- 2002
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In: EASST Review. ; 21:3/4
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The Graduate Research School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTCM) is held every summer in the Netherlands, involving a consortium of ten Dutch universities and related institutes and drawing from them doctoral students in history, philosophy, social and cultural studies of science and technology to probe a particular theme. The present paper briefly reports on WTMC activities 2001 when the topic was scientific controversies and Aant Elzinga participated as the invited resource person. The article takes up the reason for focusing on controversy studies, the role of scientific controversies in society and their varieties of politics, references to the literature, thematization, curriculum and evaluative aspects, as well as a critical look at contemporary matters of science policy and the use of expertise. The case of "climate as research and politics" was taken up at length as a key issue.
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| 10. |
- Elzinga, Aant, 1937
(author)
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"Dan Barfod la Cour, head of Commission for the 2nd International Polar Year - an early science diplomat" : Talk at Roundtable on "Arctic visionaries" convened by Sverker Sörlin, at IPY Oslo Science Conference 8-12 June 2010
- 2010
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In: Abstracts of Open Science Conference IPY, Oslo 8-12 June 2010.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The presentation sketches Dan Barfod la Cour's scientific background as researcher on aurora and geomagnetician, inventor of scientific instruments and resolute driving force that ensured the realization of the Second International Polar Year (IPY2) 1932/33 despite the severe economic crisis at the time. La Cour was the Director of the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) from the mid 1920s until the time of his death 1942. His position as a respected scientist in several international networks is traced (e.g., the IMO and some of its technical sub-committees, the Aeroarctic association devoted to promoting Zeppelin flights over the Arctic, as well as the International Union of Geodesy and Geology, IGGU and several of that body's sub-committees). Further, there is a brief discussion pertaining to la Cour's exceptional organizational and diplomatic skills to achieve research co-operation - also across an East-West divide - and secure a legacy of IPY2 in terms of geomagnetic data archived at the DMI in Copenhagen in spite of severe difficulties contributed to the partial success of IPY2. World War II prevented final synthesis of the data, but la Cour's colleague V. Laursen was finally in 1951 able to complete a lengthy bibliography of ca 1000 publications to document much of the outcome. Several of la Cour's traits as a science diplomat, as well as various features of the difficult context in which he worked, are discussed. In the Roundtable discussion comparisons were made with the trajectories of four other "Arctic visionaries". viz., Vilhjamur Stefansson, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Hans W:son Åhlman and Rudolf Samoilovich.
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