Engineering Publics. From Technoscience to Civic Technoscience

Amongst the many modes of citizen science in the past years civic technoscience has emerged. In this paper, we argue that it is necessary to distinguish between science and technoscience since they are based upon different practices and goals. Whilst 'science' tries to explain the world, 'technoscience' tries to technologically construct worlds. Whereas citizen science involves publics to contribute to data gathering and interpretation, civic technoscience involves publics in technological world making. The article analyses three different cases of civic technoscience in a FabLab, an entrepreneurial Makerspace and a civic hackathon. Whilst particular similarities such as discourses of inclusion and engineering rationalities guide these activities, we show that civic technoscience takes place in diverse settings to fulfill different agendas. By creating prototypes for engineering publics, civic technoscience expands the regime of technoscience into society.     «

Amongst the many modes of citizen science in the past years civic technoscience has emerged. In this paper, we argue that it is necessary to distinguish between science and technoscience since they are based upon different practices and goals. Whilst 'science' tries to explain the world, 'technoscience' tries to technologically construct worlds. Whereas citizen science involves publics to contribute to data gathering and interpretation, civic technoscience involves publics in technological world...     »