Steven Yearley
Encyclopedia
Steve Yearley is a British sociologist, Professor of the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge
at the University of Edinburgh
, a post he has held since 2005. He is currently seconded from the sociology unit to be Director of the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, more often known as the Genomics Forum. He first studied Natural Sciences and then Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge University before doing his PhD in sociology, supervised by Michael Mulkay at the University of York
from 1978 - 1981.
Yearley is known chiefly for three kinds of work within this field: theoretical analysis of trends within the sociology of scientific knowledge
, the application of arguments from the sociology of scientific knowledge to environmental issues and to the understanding of environmental controversies and campaigning, and pioneering work that demonstrated how public participation in the evaluation of environmental modelling could lead to refinement and better uptake of the models.
Due to the scarcity of sociology jobs in the UK in the early 1980s, Yearley had a couple of short-term positions before he got a lectureship in sociology at Queen's University Belfast in 1983. It was in Belfast
that he began to concentrate on environmental issues and in the late 1980s and early 1990s he was closely associated with Friends of the Earth
, the Ulster Wildlife Trust
and Northern Ireland Environment Link. He became the first Professor of Sociology at the University of Ulster
in 1992, returning to Queen’s for a short stint as Professor there in 1994, and then moving to the sociology professorship at the University of York in 1995. He worked in York from 1995 to 2005, spending his last six years there as Head of Department; in York he worked closely with colleagues in the Stockholm Environment Institute
. Yearley has also spent periods as Visiting Professor in Science and Technology Studies
at Cornell University
, at the Technical University of Denmark
and at the University of Melbourne
.
Since 2006, Yearley has worked primarily as Director of the Genomics Forum, a novel form of research institute, funded by the ESRC aimed at linking social research on life-science issues with a variety of audiences beyond the social sciences: policy makers, lobbyists and NGOs; public groups of various kinds; and practising scientists and medics. In this role he has collaborated with among others the Human Genetics Commission
, Citizens' Inquiry into the Forensic Use of Genetic Information, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Scottish Government's Health and Wellbeing Directorate
and the Edinburgh International Book Festival
. At the Forum, he focuses primarily on environmental aspects of the life sciences (such as issues around synthetic biology) and on new ventures in public engagement with the science and technologies of genomics. In 2010, Steven Yearley was elected to the fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
.
Sociology of scientific knowledge
The sociology of scientific knowledge ' is the study of science as a social activity, especially dealing "with the social conditions and effects of science, and with the social structures and processes of scientific activity."...
at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, a post he has held since 2005. He is currently seconded from the sociology unit to be Director of the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, more often known as the Genomics Forum. He first studied Natural Sciences and then Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge University before doing his PhD in sociology, supervised by Michael Mulkay at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
from 1978 - 1981.
Yearley is known chiefly for three kinds of work within this field: theoretical analysis of trends within the sociology of scientific knowledge
Sociology of scientific knowledge
The sociology of scientific knowledge ' is the study of science as a social activity, especially dealing "with the social conditions and effects of science, and with the social structures and processes of scientific activity."...
, the application of arguments from the sociology of scientific knowledge to environmental issues and to the understanding of environmental controversies and campaigning, and pioneering work that demonstrated how public participation in the evaluation of environmental modelling could lead to refinement and better uptake of the models.
Due to the scarcity of sociology jobs in the UK in the early 1980s, Yearley had a couple of short-term positions before he got a lectureship in sociology at Queen's University Belfast in 1983. It was in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
that he began to concentrate on environmental issues and in the late 1980s and early 1990s he was closely associated with Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
, the Ulster Wildlife Trust
The Wildlife Trusts partnership
The Wildlife Trusts is an organisation made up of 47 local Wildlife Trusts in the United Kingdom plus the Isle of Man and Alderney.The Wildlife Trusts, between them, look after around 2,300 nature reserves covering more than 90,000 hectares...
and Northern Ireland Environment Link. He became the first Professor of Sociology at the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
in 1992, returning to Queen’s for a short stint as Professor there in 1994, and then moving to the sociology professorship at the University of York in 1995. He worked in York from 1995 to 2005, spending his last six years there as Head of Department; in York he worked closely with colleagues in the Stockholm Environment Institute
Stockholm Environment Institute
The Stockholm Environment Institute, or SEI, is a non-profit, independent research and policy institute specialising in sustainable development and environmental issues.-Mission:...
. Yearley has also spent periods as Visiting Professor in Science and Technology Studies
Science and technology studies
Science, technology and society is the study of how social, political, and cultural values affect scientific research and technological innovation, and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, at the Technical University of Denmark
Technical University of Denmark
The Technical University of Denmark , often simply referred to as DTU, is a university just north of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in 1829 at the initiative of Hans Christian Ørsted as Denmark's first polytechnic, and is today ranked among Europe's leading engineering institutions, and the...
and at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
Since 2006, Yearley has worked primarily as Director of the Genomics Forum, a novel form of research institute, funded by the ESRC aimed at linking social research on life-science issues with a variety of audiences beyond the social sciences: policy makers, lobbyists and NGOs; public groups of various kinds; and practising scientists and medics. In this role he has collaborated with among others the Human Genetics Commission
Human Genetics Commission
The Human Genetics Commission is a non-departmental public body body that advises the UK government on the ethical and social aspects of genetics...
, Citizens' Inquiry into the Forensic Use of Genetic Information, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Scottish Government's Health and Wellbeing Directorate
Health and Wellbeing Directorate
Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates are a set of directorates of the Scottish Government. They are responsible for NHS Scotland, as well as policies on the development and implementation of health and community care....
and the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, is a book festival that takes place in the last three weeks of August every year in Charlotte Square, in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital...
. At the Forum, he focuses primarily on environmental aspects of the life sciences (such as issues around synthetic biology) and on new ventures in public engagement with the science and technologies of genomics. In 2010, Steven Yearley was elected to the fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
.
Selected Publications
- Science and sociological practice, Milton Keynes : Open University Press, 1984.
- Science, technology, and social change, London ; Boston : Unwin HymanAllen & UnwinAllen & Unwin, formerly a major British publishing house, is now an independent book publisher and distributor based in Australia. The Australian directors have been the sole owners of the Allen & Unwin name since effecting a management buy out at the time the UK parent company, Unwin Hyman, was...
, 1988. - with Ian Varcoe and Maureen McNeil (eds.), Deciphering science and technology : the social relations of expertise, Basingstoke : MacmillanMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
, 1990. - with Ian Varcoe and Maureen McNeil (eds.), The new reproductive technologies, London : MacmillanMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
, 1990. - The green case : a sociology of environmental issues, arguments and politics, London : HarperCollins AcademicHarperCollinsHarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, 1991. - with Harry CollinsHarry CollinsHarry Collins is a British professor at the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. While at the University of Bath Professor Collins developed the Bath School approach to the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge...
, "Epistemological Chicken", in Andrew PickeringAndrew PickeringAndrew Pickering is a sociologist, philosopher and historian of science at the University of Exeter. He was a professor of sociology and a director of science and technology studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign until 2007. He holds a doctorate in physics from the University of...
(ed.), Science as Practice and Culture, University of Chicago PressUniversity of Chicago PressThe University of Chicago Press is the largest university press in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including The Chicago Manual of Style, dozens of academic journals, including Critical Inquiry, and a wide array of...
, 1992. - avec Susan Baker et Kay Milton (eds.), Protecting the periphery : environmental policy in peripheral regions of the European Union, Ilford : Frank Cass, 1994.
- Sociology, environmentalism, globalization : reinventing the globe, London : SageSAGE PublicationsSAGE is an independent academic publisher of books, journals, and electronic products in the humanities and social sciences and the scientific, technical, and medical fields. SAGE was founded in 1965 by George McCune and Sara Miller McCune. The company is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California,...
, 1996. - How do the world's environmental problems come to be "global" ?, London : SageSAGE PublicationsSAGE is an independent academic publisher of books, journals, and electronic products in the humanities and social sciences and the scientific, technical, and medical fields. SAGE was founded in 1965 by George McCune and Sara Miller McCune. The company is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California,...
, 1996. - Cultures of Environmentalism, Palgrave MacmillanMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
, 2005. - Making sense of science : understanding the social study of science, London : SAGE, 2004.