Systematics as Cyberscience: Computers, Change, and Continuity in Science

摘要: The use of information and communication technology in scientific research has been hailed as the means to a new larger-scale, more efficient, cost-effective science. But although scientists increasingly computers their work institutions have made massive investments technology, we still little idea how computing affects way kind knowledge they produce. In Systematics Cyberscience, Christine Hine explores these questions by examining developing one discipline, systematics (which focuses on classification naming organisms exploration evolutionary relationships). Her sociological study ways that biologists working this field engaged with is an account oldest branches science transformed itself into newest became cyberscience. Combining ethnographic approach historical review textual analysis, investigates emergence virtual culture entwined field's existing practices priorities. examines policy perspective technological change, material (and aligns it), complex dynamics change continuity institutional level. New technologies stimulated reflection future prompted calls for radical transformation, but outcomes are thoroughly rooted heritage discipline. argues understand impact need take many conflicting pressures contemporary navigate. results developments rarely unambiguous gains efficiency, highly discipline-specific.