Erik Fisher | Arizona State University (original) (raw)
Papers by Erik Fisher
Futures, 2019
Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of ene... more Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of energy innovations at the regional level. Comparison of Portland and Phoenix metropolitan regions' historical, cultural, and political treatment of energy innovations highlights regional differences in expressions of sociotechnical imaginaries. Energy values is an analytical concept which helps to elucidate these differences in the context of energy innovations. Energy values of reliability and stability, and democracy and independence are expressed differently across contexts with implications for the governance of energy innovations.
Futures, 2019
Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of ene... more Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of energy innovations at the regional level. Comparison of Portland and Phoenix metropolitan regions' historical, cultural, and political treatment of energy innovations highlights regional differences in expressions of sociotechnical imaginaries. Energy values is an analytical concept which helps to elucidate these differences in the context of energy innovations. Energy values of reliability and stability, and democracy and independence are expressed differently across contexts with implications for the governance of energy innovations.
Futures, 2019
Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of ene... more Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of energy innovations at the regional level. Comparison of Portland and Phoenix metropolitan regions' historical, cultural, and political treatment of energy innovations highlights regional differences in expressions of sociotechnical imaginaries. Energy values is an analytical concept which helps to elucidate these differences in the context of energy innovations. Energy values of reliability and stability, and democracy and independence are expressed differently across contexts with implications for the governance of energy innovations.
Contradictory intent? US federal legislation on integrating societal concerns into nanotechnology... more Contradictory intent? US federal legislation on integrating societal concerns into nanotechnology research and development
Does America Need More Innovators?, 2019
needs more innovators, we argue here that it is important to make responsible innovators. Simply ... more needs more innovators, we argue here that it is important to make responsible innovators. Simply supporting research and development in the name of societal benefits and then waiting for the market to sort it out is not enough. Rather, we have a responsibility to shepherd science and technology through the innovation process to ensure that innovation outcomes do not adversely impact the societies we intend to advance. Accordingly, we need to look beyond traditional educational models in order to instill the capacities that will help innovators be more socially responsible in their daily activities. Responsible innovation is a contemporary response to an old question of the production of novelty: Is it good, or just new? There is no doubt that the world is awash in challenges that require innovation in response. The Millennium Development Goals and their successor Sustainable Development Goals from the United Nations are good examples of sociotechnical challenges for which the right ...
Collaborative approaches for supporting the consideration of societal and ethical implications an... more Collaborative approaches for supporting the consideration of societal and ethical implications and contexts in the ongoing work of research and innovation actors have proliferated throughout the Science and Technologies Studies community over the last 10 years. These developments present an opportunity to develop a common agenda of research. This chapter reports on two recent exercises that brought together socio-technical integration scholars and practitioners in order to scope out and reflect upon what such an agenda might entail. After summarising a handful of recurrent methodological, conceptual and normative themes that were articulated in both exercises, it briefly situates these within the literature and identifies some ‘next steps’ for continued agenda-building.
This report presents the research aims, methods, and outcomes of CONCERT sub-subtask 9.3.2.3 (Tas... more This report presents the research aims, methods, and outcomes of CONCERT sub-subtask 9.3.2.3 (Task 2.3 of the TERRITORIES project), based on lab/fieldwork conducted by lab engagement researchers (students and their supervisors) in three research laboratories: 1) Laboratory of Environmental Physics, University of Tartu (Estonia); 2) Biosphere Impact Studies group, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK-CEN (Belgium); 3) Environmental Radioactivity and Radiological Surveillance Unit (Spain). The report makes explicit how, through social science intervention (sociotechnical integration research; STIR), social and ethical considerations are, and can be, integrated into ongoing radiological protection research with the benefit of improving scientific modelling and assessment.
In this interview with Joshua Bayless, Erik Fisher describes STIR as a method to investigate the ... more In this interview with Joshua Bayless, Erik Fisher describes STIR as a method to investigate the possibility and utility of incorporating social and ethical considerations directly into scientific research and technology development.
Journal of Responsible Innovation, 2021
Welcome to the first entirely open access volume and issue of the Journal of Responsible Innovati... more Welcome to the first entirely open access volume and issue of the Journal of Responsible Innovation!One of the hallmarks of responsible innovation is its attempt to generally encompass multiple sit...
Journal of Responsible Innovation, 2018
View related articles View Crossmark data Citing articles: 1 View citing articles EDITORIAL Gene ... more View related articles View Crossmark data Citing articles: 1 View citing articles EDITORIAL Gene drives and the expanding horizon of governance Like other areas of emerging science and technology that trigger prolonged public debate over their transformative prospects, gene drives simultaneously generate prospects for new knowledge, hoped-for benefits, and formidable concerns (e.g. Cohen 2017; ETC Group 2017; Nature 2017). Their ability to bias inheritance of and in theory spread a genetic trait throughout an entire population of organisms-even to the point of extinction-is driving home the need for their responsible governance. Significantly, it is also driving home the need to develop capacities for such governance. The title of a recent National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM 2016a) report-Gene Drives on the Horizon: Advancing Science, Navigating Uncertainty, and Aligning Research with Public Values-is in this respect revealing. Its language and imagery point beyond what's on the horizon, and to the horizon itself. By invoking the ideas of ongoing uncertainty, public values, and the social shaping of research, it frames the horizon not as something that unfolds beneath a cloud of inevitability, but as something that is open and susceptible to responsible research and innovation. In fact, those three ideas in the title correspond to the three 'capacities' of anticipatory governance: foresight, engagement, and integration (Guston 2014). Fifteen years ago, a National Academies committee report on nanotechnology (NRC 2002) broke ground by bringing to the attention of congressional staff and, eventually lawmakers, the innovative concept of integrating societal concerns directly into research (Fisher and Mahajan 2006). The Academies' gene drives report, which addresses normative 1 topics 'in an unusually straightforward way' (Thompson 2018), builds on this concept by noting the need for 'integrating precautionary measures into the research process' (NASEM, 2016a, 6) and by framing public engagement as a means to 'inform research directions' (7). Nor does it shy away from acknowledging the 'lack of guidance' (7) and the necessity for developing more appropriate tools for assessing risks related to gene drive modified organisms. This special issue of the Journal of Responsible Innovation addresses these and related matters of pressing importance. Stemming from a 2015 workshop held at North Carolina State University's Genetic Engineering and Society Center, it tackles some of the key sociotechnical issues whose complex interactions must be considered alongside efforts to develop let alone release gene drives into the environment. Readers will find it to be a wonderfully diverse collection of disciplinary perspectives to help chart pathways through the rapidly changing landscape of technological (
The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity, 2017
“Mathematics and Root Interdisciplinarity: Historical Perspectives” examines how mathematics meet... more “Mathematics and Root Interdisciplinarity: Historical Perspectives” examines how mathematics meets criteria in the age of the inter- and transdisciplinarity of being a discipline that lies at the root of other disciplines. The chapter surveys the historical range of mathematics as directly applicable to a wide set of phenomena, practices, and developments in many other fields of learning and human endeavor. This brief reflection suggests that the application of mathematics to other domains is partially at least a function of what mathematics is considered to be.
Science and Public Policy, 2014
Enhancing the responsiveness of science and innovation programs to societal values is a critical ... more Enhancing the responsiveness of science and innovation programs to societal values is a critical element of responsible innovation. Distinct from laboratory-level research into socio-technical integration, this paper focuses on integration and responsiveness at the level of research priority setting. Taking the case of nanotechnology, it evaluates decision-making in the USA and the UK in the wake of novel policy initiatives for societal research and engagement. It asks to what extent decision-makers explicitly reflected upon societal considerations during priority setting and allocation. Interviews with key decision-makers and staff reveal limited integration of societal actors and considerations during research prioritization. In response to a pervasive history of institutional practices that preclude socio-technical integration, and in contrast to concerns that such considerations may slow down R&D, we propose that building responsiveness into research prioritization can support productivity, contribute to more socially robust outcomes, and possibly even enhance national competitiveness.
Page 1. Integrating Social Considerations into Nanotechnology Research Erik Fisher fishere@colora... more Page 1. Integrating Social Considerations into Nanotechnology Research Erik Fisher fishere@colorado edu fishere@colorado.edu Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University 1st Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology Showcase ...
This presentation describes semi-structured interactions between social scientists and nanoscale ... more This presentation describes semi-structured interactions between social scientists and nanoscale researchers in and around the laboratory that are based on an approach termed midstream modulation. Contrary to initial skepticism on the part of nanoscale scientists, the interactions came to be seen as valuable both from the standpoint of responsible innovation and also in terms of the research process itself.
The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (US Public Law 108-153) requ... more The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (US Public Law 108-153) requires that nanotechnology research and development (R&D) be conducted with effective regard to societal considerations by means of integrating societal considerations into and during nanotechnology R&D. Depending upon how it is implemented, the Act could mark a notable shift in science and technology policy. Efforts to formally address societal dimensions of technologies tend to occur before (upstream) or after (downstream), but ...
Futures, 2019
Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of ene... more Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of energy innovations at the regional level. Comparison of Portland and Phoenix metropolitan regions' historical, cultural, and political treatment of energy innovations highlights regional differences in expressions of sociotechnical imaginaries. Energy values is an analytical concept which helps to elucidate these differences in the context of energy innovations. Energy values of reliability and stability, and democracy and independence are expressed differently across contexts with implications for the governance of energy innovations.
Futures, 2019
Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of ene... more Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of energy innovations at the regional level. Comparison of Portland and Phoenix metropolitan regions' historical, cultural, and political treatment of energy innovations highlights regional differences in expressions of sociotechnical imaginaries. Energy values is an analytical concept which helps to elucidate these differences in the context of energy innovations. Energy values of reliability and stability, and democracy and independence are expressed differently across contexts with implications for the governance of energy innovations.
Futures, 2019
Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of ene... more Highlights Sociotechnical imaginaries are important cultural resources in the governance of energy innovations at the regional level. Comparison of Portland and Phoenix metropolitan regions' historical, cultural, and political treatment of energy innovations highlights regional differences in expressions of sociotechnical imaginaries. Energy values is an analytical concept which helps to elucidate these differences in the context of energy innovations. Energy values of reliability and stability, and democracy and independence are expressed differently across contexts with implications for the governance of energy innovations.
Contradictory intent? US federal legislation on integrating societal concerns into nanotechnology... more Contradictory intent? US federal legislation on integrating societal concerns into nanotechnology research and development
Does America Need More Innovators?, 2019
needs more innovators, we argue here that it is important to make responsible innovators. Simply ... more needs more innovators, we argue here that it is important to make responsible innovators. Simply supporting research and development in the name of societal benefits and then waiting for the market to sort it out is not enough. Rather, we have a responsibility to shepherd science and technology through the innovation process to ensure that innovation outcomes do not adversely impact the societies we intend to advance. Accordingly, we need to look beyond traditional educational models in order to instill the capacities that will help innovators be more socially responsible in their daily activities. Responsible innovation is a contemporary response to an old question of the production of novelty: Is it good, or just new? There is no doubt that the world is awash in challenges that require innovation in response. The Millennium Development Goals and their successor Sustainable Development Goals from the United Nations are good examples of sociotechnical challenges for which the right ...
Collaborative approaches for supporting the consideration of societal and ethical implications an... more Collaborative approaches for supporting the consideration of societal and ethical implications and contexts in the ongoing work of research and innovation actors have proliferated throughout the Science and Technologies Studies community over the last 10 years. These developments present an opportunity to develop a common agenda of research. This chapter reports on two recent exercises that brought together socio-technical integration scholars and practitioners in order to scope out and reflect upon what such an agenda might entail. After summarising a handful of recurrent methodological, conceptual and normative themes that were articulated in both exercises, it briefly situates these within the literature and identifies some ‘next steps’ for continued agenda-building.
This report presents the research aims, methods, and outcomes of CONCERT sub-subtask 9.3.2.3 (Tas... more This report presents the research aims, methods, and outcomes of CONCERT sub-subtask 9.3.2.3 (Task 2.3 of the TERRITORIES project), based on lab/fieldwork conducted by lab engagement researchers (students and their supervisors) in three research laboratories: 1) Laboratory of Environmental Physics, University of Tartu (Estonia); 2) Biosphere Impact Studies group, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK-CEN (Belgium); 3) Environmental Radioactivity and Radiological Surveillance Unit (Spain). The report makes explicit how, through social science intervention (sociotechnical integration research; STIR), social and ethical considerations are, and can be, integrated into ongoing radiological protection research with the benefit of improving scientific modelling and assessment.
In this interview with Joshua Bayless, Erik Fisher describes STIR as a method to investigate the ... more In this interview with Joshua Bayless, Erik Fisher describes STIR as a method to investigate the possibility and utility of incorporating social and ethical considerations directly into scientific research and technology development.
Journal of Responsible Innovation, 2021
Welcome to the first entirely open access volume and issue of the Journal of Responsible Innovati... more Welcome to the first entirely open access volume and issue of the Journal of Responsible Innovation!One of the hallmarks of responsible innovation is its attempt to generally encompass multiple sit...
Journal of Responsible Innovation, 2018
View related articles View Crossmark data Citing articles: 1 View citing articles EDITORIAL Gene ... more View related articles View Crossmark data Citing articles: 1 View citing articles EDITORIAL Gene drives and the expanding horizon of governance Like other areas of emerging science and technology that trigger prolonged public debate over their transformative prospects, gene drives simultaneously generate prospects for new knowledge, hoped-for benefits, and formidable concerns (e.g. Cohen 2017; ETC Group 2017; Nature 2017). Their ability to bias inheritance of and in theory spread a genetic trait throughout an entire population of organisms-even to the point of extinction-is driving home the need for their responsible governance. Significantly, it is also driving home the need to develop capacities for such governance. The title of a recent National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM 2016a) report-Gene Drives on the Horizon: Advancing Science, Navigating Uncertainty, and Aligning Research with Public Values-is in this respect revealing. Its language and imagery point beyond what's on the horizon, and to the horizon itself. By invoking the ideas of ongoing uncertainty, public values, and the social shaping of research, it frames the horizon not as something that unfolds beneath a cloud of inevitability, but as something that is open and susceptible to responsible research and innovation. In fact, those three ideas in the title correspond to the three 'capacities' of anticipatory governance: foresight, engagement, and integration (Guston 2014). Fifteen years ago, a National Academies committee report on nanotechnology (NRC 2002) broke ground by bringing to the attention of congressional staff and, eventually lawmakers, the innovative concept of integrating societal concerns directly into research (Fisher and Mahajan 2006). The Academies' gene drives report, which addresses normative 1 topics 'in an unusually straightforward way' (Thompson 2018), builds on this concept by noting the need for 'integrating precautionary measures into the research process' (NASEM, 2016a, 6) and by framing public engagement as a means to 'inform research directions' (7). Nor does it shy away from acknowledging the 'lack of guidance' (7) and the necessity for developing more appropriate tools for assessing risks related to gene drive modified organisms. This special issue of the Journal of Responsible Innovation addresses these and related matters of pressing importance. Stemming from a 2015 workshop held at North Carolina State University's Genetic Engineering and Society Center, it tackles some of the key sociotechnical issues whose complex interactions must be considered alongside efforts to develop let alone release gene drives into the environment. Readers will find it to be a wonderfully diverse collection of disciplinary perspectives to help chart pathways through the rapidly changing landscape of technological (
The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity, 2017
“Mathematics and Root Interdisciplinarity: Historical Perspectives” examines how mathematics meet... more “Mathematics and Root Interdisciplinarity: Historical Perspectives” examines how mathematics meets criteria in the age of the inter- and transdisciplinarity of being a discipline that lies at the root of other disciplines. The chapter surveys the historical range of mathematics as directly applicable to a wide set of phenomena, practices, and developments in many other fields of learning and human endeavor. This brief reflection suggests that the application of mathematics to other domains is partially at least a function of what mathematics is considered to be.
Science and Public Policy, 2014
Enhancing the responsiveness of science and innovation programs to societal values is a critical ... more Enhancing the responsiveness of science and innovation programs to societal values is a critical element of responsible innovation. Distinct from laboratory-level research into socio-technical integration, this paper focuses on integration and responsiveness at the level of research priority setting. Taking the case of nanotechnology, it evaluates decision-making in the USA and the UK in the wake of novel policy initiatives for societal research and engagement. It asks to what extent decision-makers explicitly reflected upon societal considerations during priority setting and allocation. Interviews with key decision-makers and staff reveal limited integration of societal actors and considerations during research prioritization. In response to a pervasive history of institutional practices that preclude socio-technical integration, and in contrast to concerns that such considerations may slow down R&D, we propose that building responsiveness into research prioritization can support productivity, contribute to more socially robust outcomes, and possibly even enhance national competitiveness.
Page 1. Integrating Social Considerations into Nanotechnology Research Erik Fisher fishere@colora... more Page 1. Integrating Social Considerations into Nanotechnology Research Erik Fisher fishere@colorado edu fishere@colorado.edu Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University 1st Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology Showcase ...
This presentation describes semi-structured interactions between social scientists and nanoscale ... more This presentation describes semi-structured interactions between social scientists and nanoscale researchers in and around the laboratory that are based on an approach termed midstream modulation. Contrary to initial skepticism on the part of nanoscale scientists, the interactions came to be seen as valuable both from the standpoint of responsible innovation and also in terms of the research process itself.
The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (US Public Law 108-153) requ... more The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (US Public Law 108-153) requires that nanotechnology research and development (R&D) be conducted with effective regard to societal considerations by means of integrating societal considerations into and during nanotechnology R&D. Depending upon how it is implemented, the Act could mark a notable shift in science and technology policy. Efforts to formally address societal dimensions of technologies tend to occur before (upstream) or after (downstream), but ...