New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

Dr. Yerkebulan Sairambay’s New Media and Political Participation in Russia and Kazakhstan (Rowman and Littlefield, 2023) confronts the sociological problem of the usage of new media (social media, the Internet, digital technologies, messaging applications) by young people in political participation. This book not only sheds light on the ways in which new media use contributes to the nature of political participation in Kazakhstan and Russia, but also explains why citizens use these tools in their civic engagement. Dr. Sairambay sets his sights on what occurs downstream, i.e., not in the minds of political leaders and/or well known oppositionists, but on the ground in specific contexts such as cities, towns, and villages by young people.For a similar interview in the Russian language, see Dr. Sairambay’s podcast episode with the University of Tartu’s Centre for Eurasian and Russian Studies.Cholpon Ramizova is a London-based writer and researcher. She holds a Master's in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London. Her thematic interests are in migration, displacement, identity, gender, and nationalism - and more specifically on how and which ways these intersect within the Central Asia context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks to Cyrus Mody, Professor in the History of Science, Technology, and Innovation and Director of the STS Program at Maastricht University, about his book, The Squares: US Physical and Engineering Scientists in the Long 1970s (MIT Press, 2022). Many narratives about contemporary technologies, especially digital computing and the Internet, focus on the influences of 1960s counter-cultures. In _The Squares_, Mody takes the opposite approach and asks how square, non-counter-cultural scientists and engineers reacted to their changing environments in the 1970s. Vinsel and Mody also talk about what this story may suggest about current efforts to refocus STEM education on “values.” The pair also discuss how, over the course of his career, Mody has continually used a set of historical actors he knows a great deal about to examine different historical themes and questions. Finally, they discuss Mody’s current projects and where he is headed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Phil Haun, an expert on tactical air power and modern warfare, delves into the intricacies of air power during the Vietnam War. He explains how air campaigns like Rolling Thunder often fell short of objectives while combined arms operations were more successful. Haun highlights operational and environmental factors crucial to air power effectiveness, analyzes the challenges faced by North Vietnam, and discusses the psychological impact of air dominance in military conflicts. His insights are pivotal for understanding air warfare's evolution and relevance today.

Psychologists and neuroscientists struggle with how best to interpret human motivation and decision making. The assumption is that below a mental “surface” of conscious awareness lies a deep and complex set of inner beliefs, values, and desires that govern our thoughts, ideas, and actions, and that to know this depth is to know ourselves. In the The Mind Is Flat: The Remarkable Shallowness of the Improvising Brain (Yale UP, 2019), behavioural scientist Nick Chater contends just the opposite: rather than being the plaything of unconscious currents, the brain generates behaviors in the moment based entirely on our past experiences. Engaging the reader with eye-opening experiments and visual examples, Chater first demolishes our intuitive sense of how our mind works, then argues for a positive interpretation of the brain as a ceaseless and creative improviser.Dr. Nick Chater is Professor of behavioral science at the Warwick Business School and cofounder of Decision Technology Ltd. He has contributed to more than two hundred articles and book chapters and is author, co-author, or co-editor of fourteen books.Dr. John Griffiths (@neurodidact) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and Head of Whole Brain Modelling at the CAMH Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics. His research group (www.grifflab.com) works at the intersection of computational neuroscience and neuroimaging, building simulations of human brain activity aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurological illness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Nick Haddad, a dedicated scientist focused on endangered butterfly species, shares his quest to save these delicate creatures. He discusses the alarming decline in butterfly populations, emphasizing that ignoring them is not an option. Haddad recounts his work in diverse habitats, including military sites, facing unique conservation challenges. He reveals surprising insights about effective conservation strategies, like managed relocation, to combat climate change impacts. His personal connection to butterflies adds a heartfelt touch to the urgent plea for biodiversity protection.

Uluğ Kuzuoğlu, an author and scholar specializing in the intersection of language and modernity, dives deep into Chinese script reforms from the 1890s to the 1980s. He reveals how historical perceptions of the writing system sparked debates on communication and literacy. The discussion includes diverse attempts to modernize scripts, such as phonetic alphabets and character simplification. Kuzuoğlu illuminates the political and economic forces driving these changes, showcasing the evolving identity of language in the context of the global information age.

Michele Santamaria is a pivotal voice in information literacy, while Nicole Pfannenstiel champions empowered student engagement. They discuss how to effectively navigate misinformation by teaching adaptable information evaluation skills. The conversation explores the integration of social media in educational settings, emphasizing its potential to enhance student engagement and critical thinking. They also delve into students' online identities, the importance of responsible digital citizenship, and the development of concrete lesson plans that promote authentic interaction with digital platforms.

Explore the tumultuous aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the intense jury deliberations that unfolded in its wake. Discover how a corporate lawyer transformed into an environmental advocate amidst a backdrop of public interest and courtroom tension. Hear stories of jurors grappling with the severity of their decisions and the emotional burden of pursuing justice for affected communities. A significant field trip to the devastated shores offers jurors firsthand insight into the environmental impact, leading to a hard-fought verdict that reflects their deep engagement.

Noah Heringman, a Curators’ Professor of English at the University of Missouri, takes listeners on a captivating journey through the concept of deep time. He explores how 18th-century literature shaped our understanding of geological time, drawing on figures like William Blake and Charles Darwin. Heringman critiques contemporary narratives of the Anthropocene and challenges us to see deep time as an imaginative landscape intertwined with history, colonialism, and literary forms. His insights invite reflection on how our perceptions of Earth's history continue to evolve.

Heather Murray, a cultural and intellectual historian, discusses her book on the experiences of psychiatric patients in 20th-century America. She challenges common perceptions of patients as passive, revealing their active engagement with societal and personal issues. Topics include the impact of deinstitutionalization on mental health narratives, the philosophical implications of resignation, and how modernity shaped psychiatric institutions. Murray also reflects on post-war shifts in psychiatric understanding and its influence on identity and individualism.