For my research project, I’d really like to expose the other side of technology and advancements of Western culture. For example, I feel that engineering, being born out of capitalism and modern technology, is a lot history. HIS-story is told, the story of the conqueror and it is the same with technology and engineers who create or implement this technology. We only see benefits and progress come out of it because we are the ones who are benefit from it, but what about the other effects that it has on other communities? What may be progress and advancements to us, may be taking a huge step back for others. It is important I feel to realize different world views and how these world views may affect how we view progress.
One example of where I got this idea is the emergence of a ‘new field’ in which humans study animals and their use of plants as medicine. This has been in existence for thousands of centuries, Native peoples’ have always done this, this has been part of the reason they have been able to gain knowledge of the plants and eco-system. This is exactly what I intend to explore with this research project, how we may feel we are using ‘cutting edge’ technology and ‘progressing’ because we are a superior Western culture, but, what if other countries employ the same methods in different ways, but are ignored simply because they do not compete with the West? What if others have more effective and efficient methods?
I don’t have a specific country that I’d like to look at, but I feel it’d be interesting to look at indigenous cultures and go from there. I plan on going to your office hours for a better discussion on direction I should take this.
I also think it'd be interesting to look more into the Academic Military Industrial Complex and how it affects our education as well as shapes our entire world view as a Western Culture.
1) I think questions like "what is the meaning of progress?", "does technology = progress? and for whom?" and "what does it mean to be 'modern' or 'developed'" are all fantastic questions that are
ReplyDeletecompletely appropriate for this research project, and in fact, will link up to a number of the other research projects that are being pursued.
2) More specifically, exploring bio-prospecting (or what many refer to as 'bio-piracy') would be a great focus. This might include, for example, an analysis of our patent system or the construction of "Western" science/engineering as "objective" and 'indigenous' science/engineering as value-laden -- though you might want to look at
David Hess' argument in Science and Technology in a Multicultural World that "Western" science/engineering is also indigenous (as in
shaped by its cultural context). (How would it transform US science/engineering education if we adopted this perspective?)
Or you could choose to focus on a discursive analysis of the debates about bioprospecting, provide an analysis of protest movements and how
they are shaped within specific national contexts, etc. Or, for example, you could build off the work of Vandana Shiva (amongst others) in exploring/critiquing of genetic engineering or (supposedly) free trade policies.
Lots of different options here. I look forward to seeing where you go.