Banca de DEFESA: Bruno Lucas Saliba de Paula

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : Bruno Lucas Saliba de Paula
DATE: 31/08/2023
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: https://conferenciaweb.rnp.br/sala/tiago-ribeiro-duarte
TITLE:

DOING UNDONE SCIENCE: the practice of counter-expertise in the context of uranium mining in Caetité (BA)

KEY WORDS:

environmental conflicts; counter-expertise; undone science; uranium mining;

PAGES: 247
BIG AREA: Ciências Humanas
AREA: Sociologia
SUMMARY:

This work aims to analyze, based on the Science and Technology Studies approaches, the epistemic dimensions of the environmental conflict related to the mining and processing of uranium carried out by Industrias Nucleares do Brasil in Caetité (BA). Since they began in 1999, these activities have been intensely debated, as they would be associated with cancer illnesses among the local population and possible environmental contamination. In this regard, we intend to investigate the relationship between two knowledge regimes: on the one hand, the specialized scientific perspective used by INB; on the other hand, the alternative knowledge produced by local residents and social movements in alliance with independent scientists. Our results indicate that INB science operates in two ways: the first is associated with a supposedly neutral and technocratic practice, which treats environmental contamination as natural and tries to contain suspicions and controversies coming from the local population; the second, typical of “undone science”, is linked to the active production of ignorance that distances Caetité residents from information that would help them better understand the risks to which they are subjected. In contrast, people affected by uranium mining, as well as social movements, indicate a direct link between mining and contamination. In this case, we perceive “counter-expertise” initiatives by activists, which would operate in order to produce, together with independent experts, new evidence and foster debates on neglected issues, filling the gaps left by “undone science”. Based on our data, we propose a conceptual synthesis regarding the various types of expertise, which vary according to the spaces in which they are produced – whether in conventional or independent institutions – and the degree of neutrality or situationality they claim for themselves. We argue, inspired by feminist epistemologies, that science become more potent and acquire a “strong objectivity” by assuming their engagement with subalternized groups. Thus, we emphasize the importance of the participation of people affected by environmental conflicts not only in decision-making processes, but also in the production of knowledge about their situations, which contributes to the democratization of science and technology.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externa à Instituição - RAQUEL MARIA RIGOTTO - UFC
Interno - 1642428 - FABRICIO MONTEIRO NEVES
Externa à Instituição - LORENA CANDIDO FLEURY - UFRGS
Externo à Instituição - Paulo de Freitas Castro Fonseca - UFBA
Presidente - 1569541 - TIAGO RIBEIRO DUARTE