Putting Science in Its Place: Geographies of Scientific Knowledge (science.culture)

There is something strange about science. Scientific inquiry takes place in highly specialist sites—high-tech labs, remote field stations, museum archives, astronomical observatories. It has also been pursued in coffee shops and cathedrals, in public houses and stock farms, on ships’ decks and exhibition stages. And yet the knowledge that is acquired in these places is taken to have ubiquitous qualities. Scientific findings, to put it another way, are both local and global; they are both particular and universal; they are both provincial and transcendental.To ask what role specific locations have in the making of scientific knowledge and to try to figure out how local experience is transformed into shared generalization is, I believe, to ask fundamentally geographical questions. We are accustomed to thinking of science and its findings as universal. After all, one atom of carbon plus two of oxygen yields carbon dioxide in Amazonia as well as in Alaska; a scientist in Bombay can use the same materials and techniques to challenge the work of a scientist in New York; and of course the laws of gravity apply worldwide. Why, then, should the spaces where science is done matter at all? David N. Livingstone here puts that question to the test with his fascinating study of how science bears the marks of its place of production.

Putting Science in Its Place establishes the fundamental importance of geography in both the generation and the consumption of scientific knowledge, using historical examples of the many places where science has been practiced. Livingstone first turns his attention to some of the specific sites where science has been made-the laboratory, museum, and botanical garden, to name some of the more conventional locales, but also places like the coffeehouse and cathedral, ship's deck and asylum, even the human body itself. In each case, he reveals just how the space of inquiry has conditioned the investigations carried out there. He then describes how, on a regional scale, provincial cultures have shaped scientific endeavor and how, in turn, scientific practices have been instrumental in forming local identities. Widening his inquiry, Livingstone points gently to the fundamental instability of scientific meaning, based on case studies of how scientific theories have been received in different locales. Putting Science in Its Place powerfully concludes by examining the remarkable mobility of science and the seemingly effortless way it moves around the globe.

From the reception of Darwin in the land of the Maori to the giraffe that walked from Marseilles to Paris, Livingstone shows that place does matter, even in the world of science.

Annotation We are accustomed to thinking of science and its findings as universal. After all, one atom of carbon plus two of oxygen yields carbon dioxide in Amazonia as well as in Alaska; a scientist in Bombay can use the same materials and techniques to challenge the work of a scientist in New York; and of course the laws of gravity apply worldwide. Why, then, should the spaces where science is done matter at all? David N. Livingstone here puts that question to the test with his fascinating study of how science bears the marks of its place of production. Putting Science in Its Place establishes the fundamental importance of geography in both the generation and the consumption of scientific knowledge, using historical examples of the many places where science has been practiced. Livingstone first turns his attention to some of the specific sites where science has been madethe laboratory, museum, and botanical garden, to name some of the more conventional locales, but also places like the coffeehouse and cathedral, ship's deck and asylum, even the human body itself. In each case, he reveals just how the space of inquiry has conditioned the investigations carried out there. He then describes how, on a regional scale, provincial cultures have shaped scientific endeavor and how, in turn, scientific practices have been instrumental in forming local identities. Widening his inquiry, Livingstone points gently to the fundamental instability of scientific meaning, based on case studies of how scientific theories have been received in different locales. Putting Science in Its Place powerfully concludes by examining the remarkable mobility of science and the seemingly effortless way it moves around the globe. From the reception of Darwin in the land of the Maori to the giraffe that walked from Marseilles to Paris, Livingstone shows that place does matter, even in the world of science Putting Science In Its Place Establishes The Fundamental Importance Of Geography In Both The Generation And The Consumption Of Scientific Knowledge, Using Historical Examples Of The Many Places Where Science Has Been Practiced. Livingstone First Turns His Attention To Some Of The Specific Sites Where Science Has Been Made - The Laboratory, Museum, And Botanical Garden, To Name Some Of The More Conventional Locales, But Also Places Like The Coffeehouse And Cathedral, Ship's Deck And Asylum, Even The Human Body Itself. In Each Case, He Reveals Just How The Space Of Inquiry Has Conditioned The Investigations Carried Out There. He Then Describes How, On A Regional Scale, Provincial Cultures Have Shaped Scientific Endeavor And How, In Turn, Scientific Practices Have Been Instrumental In Forming Local Identities. Widening His Inquiry, Livingstone Points Gently To The Fundamental Instability Of Scientific Meaning, Based On Case Studies Of How Scientific Theories Have Been Received In Different Locales. Putting Science In Its Place Concludes By By Examining The Remarkable Mobility Of Science And The Seemingly Effortless Way It Moves Around The Globe.--jacket. A Geography Of Science? -- Site : Venues Of Science -- Region : Cultures Of Science -- Circulation : Movements Of Science -- Putting Science In Its Place. David N. Livingstone. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [187]-223) And Index. Offers a study of how science bears the marks of its place of production. This title establishes the fundamental importance of geography in both the generation and the consumption of scientific knowledge, using historical examples of the many places where science has been practiced. Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Preface 12 1 A Geography of Science? 14 2 Site: Venues of science 30 3 Region: Cultures of science 100 4 Circulation: Movements of science 148 5 Putting Science in Its Place 192 Bibliographical Essay 200 Index 238