Safe Science: Material and Social Order in Laboratory Work

摘要: Scientific laboratories can sometimes be dangerous places to work, and safety concerns have a significant impact on the scientific research process. Because practices specify both behavioral norms technicalstandards, they provide an opportunity better understand relationships between organizational epistemic aspects of culture. This paper presents case study 'pulsed-power' facility at US Los Alamos National Laboratory, where electrical hazards are major concern. Drawing work by Mary Douglas others, I show how in pulsed-power laboratory understood terms concepts order pollution. In particular, argue that is cultural setting generates material social science. The concept 'traceability' - ideal being able trace visual logical connections system components central metaphor for this setting. enacted design systems through various procedures function as rituals. These rituals, traceability itself, also contribute helping shape conduct laboratory, which turn structure group larger institution.