Social Studies of Scientific Knowledge

The sociology of science underwent rapid change during the last five decades, generating a series of theoretical and methodological innovations that have subtly influenced human geography. It challenged existing views of science held by philosophers and scientists alike and opened up debates on the rationality of science and the nature of modernity. This piece covers the history of social studies of scientific knowledge and how it has come into contact with human geography. In particular, it covers the anthropological input into science studies, the development of mapping controversies as a method, the democratization of science, and sociomaterial analyses of science and technology. In doing so, it draws on recent work in geography with a clear influence from Science and Technology Studies and considers the future value of social studies of science in a changing cultural context of scientific practice.