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Massimiano Bucchi (Università di Trento and Collegio Carlo Alberto)

20 March 2015 @ 12:45

 

  • Past event

Details

Date:
20 March 2015
Time:
12:45
Event Category:

“Norms, competition and visibility in contemporary science: the legacy of Robert K Merton”

(Note: the seminar is on Friday)

Abstract

Can Robert K. Merton’s seminal work in the sociology of science still offer useful insights to understand key features, trends and challenges of science in contemporary societies? This paper focuses on two main topics. It addresses the general theme of values and norms in science in the light of relevant organizational changes that have marked science in recent decades, as well as the resilience of the concept of ‘scientific community’ to those changes. Starting from Merton’s classical study of the ‘Matthew effect’, the paper then analyses the theme of competition in science, with particular regard to the dynamics that characterize the reputation and visibility of scientists.