Students come into university with strong visions of activism and improvement. They know the planet needs their help. But how? What can STS (in the form of degrees like “Sociology and Politics of Science BSc” and “History and Philosophy of Science BSc”) add that isn’t already available and easy to reach? In this episode, we talk with two STS first-year students about their experiences in the degree thus far. How has it helped to sharpen their ideas of where to where to act and why. We asked them to discuss one of the first-year projects that made them approach activism better. Both chose work from our “Big Problems in Science and Technology Studies” module, which is designed for just this purpose. Our focus this year was on Oceans.
Fatima philosophises an experimental geoengineering project by Russ George, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who, in 2012, sold carbon credits for dumping 100 tonnes of iron sulfate into international waters to trigger an algal bloom. She questions whether this ‘experiment’ was scientific or just pseudoscience, as well as the ethics of George’s near-unilateral venture in the no-man’s-land of the open ocean.
JJ considers the idea of “building with blue biomass,” an idea promoted by an international network of architects, engineers, and academics (some at UCL!) who are imagining new ways to use marine micro-organisms for sustainable Net-Zero construction. The building sector produces approximately 40 percent of carbon emissions today: plenty of room for improvement, and with this research, plenty of hope to be found. But how to connect the vision to action? JJ considers the challenges keeping this kind of initiative from connecting with the public, the tyranny of the techno-market, and the role of sociotechnical imaginaries in driving change.
Finally, a surprise guest joins Fatima, JJ, and Professor Joe Cain to chat about everything from their colourful backgrounds in youth activism and professional poker, to what brought them to STS and where they plan to go from here. Is STS the nurturing community and interdisciplinary intellectual challenge that staff claim? (Spoiler: yes!)
Papers discussed are available for reading:
- Fatima Ismail. 2024. Epistemological Challenges in Geoengineering
fatima-ismail-epistemological-challenges-geoengineering-wearests-stsucl.pdf - J.J. Laws. 2024. Imagining a Bio-Blueprint for Circular Construction
jj-laws-imagining-bio-blueprint-circular-construction-wearests-stsucl.pdf
Featuring
Episode producer
- Capri Huffman, who also is the academic representative for UCL’s MSc Science, Technology and Society course.
Interviewees
- Fatima Ismail is the first-year academic representative for UCL’s BSc Sociology and Politics of Science course. Find her on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatima-ismail-164b88292) and Instagram (@fatima.activist).
- JJ Laws is a first-year student in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).
Host
- Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).
https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain
Music credits
“Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod
https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5
“Sweeter Vermouth” by Kevin McLeod
https://filmmusic.io/song/4450-sweeter-vermouth
Podcast information
WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show:
https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast