Social and epistemic inequalities in science: insights from a multi-method study of forest research

Inequalities in science have come under scrutiny in the last decade. Different strands of science studies, including scientometrics and sociological works, have examined geographic and gender inequalities in scientific fields. However, the persistent divide between these works prevents a more holistic understanding of how macro-level structures relate to micro-level experiences and practices that (re-) produce prevailing patterns. In this seminar, we present insights from the In-Forest project, a multi-method study on inequality and its epistemic effects in forest research. In our presentation, we synthesize findings from bibliometric and ethnographic analyses conducted as part of the DFG-funded project. We also reflect on the methodological learnings and challenges in linking these approaches in an in-depth empirical study, and the potential of reconciling scientometrics and sociology of science for investigating social and epistemic structures in science.

Speakers: Nelius Boshoff & Susanne Koch